The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Lisa Baker, advanced legislation on April 23 to increase penalties for those who attempt to murder law enforcement officers. The bill, sponsored by Baker and Senator Rosemary Brown, aims to strengthen sentencing guidelines for crimes involving serious bodily injury against police.
The proposed changes are intended to address what lawmakers describe as a gap in current sentencing laws. While both attempted murder and assault of a law enforcement officer carry a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, only assault currently has a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. Attempted murder does not have such a requirement, with Pennsylvania’s guidelines recommending sentences as low as seven years.
“Senate Bill 1284 corrects this oversight by imposing a mandatory minimum of 20 years for attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit murder of a law enforcement officer where serious bodily injury results; and increases the statutory maximum from 40 years to up to life in prison,” said Baker. “The more serious the crime, the more serious the punishment should be. Anyone who intentionally tries to kill a police officer must face the full weight of the law. This bill ensures sentencing reflects the gravity of those crimes.”
Brown said that passing this legislation is an important step toward ensuring laws properly reflect violent acts against police: “This legislation closes a gap in sentencing and helps ensure those who attempt to take an officer’s life are held fully accountable,” she said. “We are grateful for the service and sacrifice of officers across our commonwealth who face danger each day and put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.”
The need for new legislation became apparent after Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin survived being shot in the head during an incident in Lackawanna County in 2024. During criminal proceedings related to that case, officials noted disparities between potential sentences based on whether an officer survives or not.
“The fact that someone could face as little as seven years in prison after shooting a police officer in the head, twice, simply because that officer survived by a sheer miracle is unacceptable,” said Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher. “On behalf of law enforcement across Lackawanna County, we support this legislation advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee and Sen. Lisa Baker because it closes that dangerous loophole… In cases like Kyle Gilmartin’s, the only difference between life and death was luck. Justice should not depend on that.”
The bill will now move forward for consideration by the full Senate.
