Representative Kip Capley passes Back The Blue Act.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, on Monday passed legislation offering additional protections for police officers in Tennessee.

The Back The Blue Act will enhance the penalty for assault against a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony punishable by a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and a $10,000 fine.

“An assault on law enforcement is an attack on the entire community that he or she serves,” Capley said. “Police go to work each day with the goal of improving public safety and it’s important we support the difficult job they do. Tennessee Republicans will always back the blue and I thank my colleagues for supporting this important bill.”

In Tennessee, assaulting a first responder, including nurses, firefighters, and emergency services personnel, is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Assault includes knowingly causing bodily injury or knowingly causing offensive physical contact, including spitting, throwing or transferring bodily fluids, human pathogens or waste onto a first responder.

There were 1,603 simple assaults on law enforcement officers last year in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

If approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Bill Lee, House Bill 1881 will take effect July 1.

State Rep. Kip Capley represents House District 71, which includes Wayne County and part of Hardin, Lawrence and Maury counties.