By Kevin Reagan | 12 News Phoenix
PHOENIX — Arizona lawmakers are considering assigning tougher penalties to suspects who ambush police after multiple Valley officers have recently been wounded in these types of surprise attacks.
House Bill 2485 would add more years to a defendant’s prison sentence if they’re found guilty in court of ambushing a police officer. The bill passed out of the Public Safety Committee on Monday with support from Republicans and Democrats.
If the bill is ultimately signed into law, then it would add two years to a defendant’s presumptive prison sentence after they’re found guilty of lying in wait to ambush an officer.
The bill additionally states that the defendant would not be eligible “for suspension of sentence, commutation or early release on any basis until the sentence is served.”
Supporters of the legislation told lawmakers that it is necessary to send a strong message that Arizona doesn’t tolerate this type of offense on law enforcement.
Officers in the Phoenix Police Department have been injured in multiple incidents over the last year that have been described by the agency as an ambush.
