PHOENIX – As communities struggle with increasing crime rates leaders are being pressured to defund the police. In response, one Arizona lawmaker is making it easier to resist that pressure.
Rep. Bret Roberts has introduced HB 2310, legislation that would hold municipalities accountable for efforts to defund their police departments and withhold state shared revenues if they decide not to reverse their decisions.
“Proposals to defund police departments are reckless and dangerous,” said Roberts. “Once unthinkable, except to left-wing extremists, such calls appear to have recently gained disturbing traction in some mainstream Democratic circles.”
“More than ever, our communities need the protection that only law enforcement can offer – and that’s why we must do everything to protect the resources that enable officers to do their job. This legislation will prevent radical efforts to defund police budgets and help protect law enforcement and keep communities safe,” added Roberts.
Roberts has also introduced HB 2309 which creates harsher penalties for unlawful and violent actions during rioting.
“I’ve introduced HB 2309 to make every effort to keep our communities safe,” said Roberts. “I find it deeply troubling that violence, rioting, and the destruction of property has become an accepted norm in cities across the nation, and local leaders doing little to stop it. We cannot enable such activity in Arizona and should take all appropriate steps to discourage it and punish those who engage in it.”
“HB 2309 and 2310 are thoughtful and timely bills that recognize and respect the importance of supporting the work of law enforcement to keep Arizona communities safe,” said Ben Toma, House Majority Leader.
HB2309 “establishes the criminal offense of violent or disorderly assembly and increases, to a class 6 felony, specified criminal offenses that take place while committing violent or disorderly assembly.”