Kane County Reporter

State Rep. Dan Ugaste recently voiced his opinion on proposed legislation that would make violence against police officers a hate crime in the state of Illinois.

The Police Hate Crime Bill, sponsored by state Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines), would make violence against police a hate crime in the state of Illinois, according to Washington News Post. In a similar vein, The Police Protection Act would make “officer targeting” a Class 3 felony and increase penalties for such acts.

Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter that while he supported police officers, he remained cautious about imposing new legislation and that lawmakers should focus on enforcing already existing laws.

"I understand the sentiment and why someone would be talking about taking an extra step to protect police. They have been under attack for quite some time now," Ugaste said in an interview with Kane County Reporter. "That being said, I don't know if we should be taking what are otherwise laws that were passed for specific reasons and applying them everywhere. I think we may be better served enforcing the laws we have on the books as strongly as we can. Right now, there are too many executives not being fully supportive of our officers."

ACLU Illinois opposes the legislation, arguing that the bills won't solve the problem they are trying to address because studies show that increasing penalties for a crime doesn't reduce the crime.

"If we're telling the public that we're going to make them safer, and protect police officers and reduce crime, then we're really barking up the wrong tree if we're proposing penalty enhancements as a way to do that," Benjamin Ruddell, ACLU-Illinois director of criminal justice policy said, according to ABC 7 News.

Ugaste said that he hadn't seen the report, but that he supported increased penalties in certain situations.

"I have not seen the report, but would hesitate to accept it at face value," the representative told Kane County Reporter. "I think in certain instances enhanced penalties always serve as a deterrent. If they have report that would indicate something to the contrary I would be willing to look at it."

Ugaste went on to add that lawmakers should review previously passed legislation to make amendments as necessary to keep officers safe.

"We need to review the bill passed in lame duck session and the wee hours of the morning and make more modifications that make sure citizens are as protected as they can be along with our officers," Ugaste said. "I have filed a bill that will enhance penalties for unlawful use of a firearm. I think that would help as well as laws that keep criminals behind bars for as long as the crime they’ve committed establishes."

According to FBI statistics, more than 60,000 law enforcement officers were injured while on duty last year, ABC 7 News reported.