Northam signs bill that forces those who kill officers to spend life in prison or die
RICHMOND, Va. April 3 2019 Gov. Northam has signed a bill that would require anyone convicted of killing a police officer to spend a minimum of life in prison.
Northam signed SB 1501 Thursday that amends the current capital murder charge involving a law enforcement officer.
Senator Bill Carrico, a Republican representative from Fries and former Virginia State Police trooper, filed the legislation in response to the death of VSP Special Agent Mike Walter.
WTVR reported that Northam committed to signing the bill after it passed the House and Senate by wide margins. He also met with Walter’s widow and widows of several other officers killed in the line of duty.
The bill requires someone convicted of killing an officer sentenced to a minimum of life in prison and potentially face the death penalty.
The suspect in Walter’s killing entered a plea deal and was convicted of capital murder.
A judge sentenced him to life in prison, but suspended all but 36 years.
“I am hoping this sends a clear message to anyone who targets a police officer in Virginia, you will now face life locked away or death,” Carrico told WTVR. “Now those men and women that fought this courageous battle against evil can rest in peace knowing that no one else will walk away with a slap on the wrist for taking their lives.”
Capital murder is a class 1 felony, which is punishable by life in prison and a $100,000 fine or if the person is over the age of 18, class 1 felonies may also be punishable by death.
A law enforcement officer includes a fire marshal or a deputy or an assistant fire marshal, auxiliary deputy sheriff, or any law-enforcement officer of another state or the United States having the power to arrest.
A public signing ceremony will be held next month, according to WTVR.
