State Sen. Joe Griffo wants police officers included under hate crime protections, and wants it to be a felony to be within 25 feet of a police officer doing their job if a civilian refuses an order to move.

Griffo, R-Rome, and members of the Senate Republican Conference unveiled a package of legislation the senator’s office says is “to protect and honor law enforcement throughout the state.”

A news release from Griffo cites a recent State of Safety in America report. The report appears on Safewise.com, a website that appears geared toward selling home security systems.

“New York is the ‘most worried about safety’ state in the nation, with 70 percent of New Yorkers reporting that they are ‘concerned daily’ about their safety. In addition, only 40 percent of New Yorkers feel safe in their everyday lives, while 78 percent think crime is increasing,” Griffo’s office said.

Griffo’s news release announcing the bill cites a report from the New York City Police Department on crime in that city. There is no mention of similar figures for St. Lawrence County, or Griffo’s 47th Senate District. His district includes parts of eastern and southern St. Lawrence County, plus all of Lewis County and parts of Oneida County.

“In New York City, violent crime has risen at an alarming rate over the past year, with the most recent report by the New York Police Department showing that overall index crime rose by 30.4 percent compared to April 2020. This rapid increase in crime was driven in part by a 35.6 percent increase in felony assault, a 28.6 percent increase in robbery, and a 166.1 percent increase in shooting incidents,” Griffo’s office said.

The legislative package would:

• make it a class D felony, which is punishable by a state prison term, for any person to approach or remain within 25 feet of a police officer engaged in the performance of their duties when they are ordered by an officer and they fail to do so

• increase penalties for assaulting a police officer

• increase penalties for causing a police officer to come into contact with foreign substances or objects, such as bottles, flammable liquids, etc.

• make it a crime to release the private or identifying information of a police or peace officer simply because of their profession and with the intent to threaten or intimidate that police or peace officer

• make it a crime to falsely accuse a police or peace officer of wrongdoing in the performance of their duties

• make a crime committed against a police officer because of their status as a police officer, a hate crime

• provide a $500,000 benefit for police officers who are seriously disabled or die from injuries incurred in the line of duty

• make it a class E Felony to stalk a police or peace officer, and makes the crime of stalking a police or peace officer eligible for bail

• enhance the penalty resisting arrest from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony; add resisting arrest to the list of E felonies where a police officer may arrest someone, instead of being required to issue an appearance ticket

• establishes May 15 as Police Memorial Day in New York State. It would also require the governor to appear in person at the fitting ceremony at the Police Memorial Wall and to read aloud the names of the police officers who died during the previous year from injuries incurred in the line of duty

• prohibit the disclosure of personnel records with regard to unsubstantiated or unfounded complaints made against first responders

Griffo’s office said the bill also includes a proposal to “Defund Municipalities that Defund the Police Act.” The Director of the Division of Budget would withhold state funding to a municipality that abolishes, disbands or significantly reduces its police department. The amount of state money withheld would correspond with the percentage reduction in a police department’s budget by the municipality,” the senator’s office said.

"I appreciate the men and women of law enforcement and their dedication and commitment to serve and protect our communities,” Griffo said in a prepared statement. “I thank our police and law enforcement personnel for their selfless service and the sacrifices that they make on the behalf of all New Yorkers."