‘Shame on the Virginia Senate for Passing a Bill Allowing Assaulting a Police Officer to be a Misdemeanor’ Says FL Sheriff

Florida Sheriff William Snyder called out the Virginia State Senate today for “passing a bill allowing assaulting a police officer to be a misdemeanor.” He said, “shame” on them.

If society does not protect her protectors, who will protect society? This national madness is taking our country to the precipice,” Snyder added.

I can be quiet no longer! Shame on the Virginia Senate for passing a bill allowing assaulting a police officer to be a misdemeanor. If society does not protect her protectors, who will protect society? This national madness is taking our country to the precipice. Wm Snyder

— MartinCountySheriff (@MartinFLSheriff) August 27, 2020

Sheriff Snyder spoke out when George Floyd died while in police custody, saying “There are people in different communities throughout the country, Martin County is no exception, where there is a sensitivity, there’s a sadness about what has occurred.”

“This is not good for anybody. There’s nothing good that comes of situations like this. The conversation about law enforcement’s interaction with minority communities has been going on for a long time in the United States. This is not new,” he added at the time.

As for the riots, arson, and looting in the aftermath, Snyder said, “We don’t condone any kind of violence or unnecessary force.”

From WPTV:

As for larger conversations about policing and community trust, Sheriff Snyder said people will find their own takeaways.

“I think the challenge for us Americans is to have some kind of consensus and to work hard because we have to have law enforcement,” said Snyder. “Cops are not going away. Underserved communities are not going away. So we have to learn to work together to prevent what we’re seeing, not just in Minneapolis but in other cities around the country.”

Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas was one of “yes” votes on the passage of the bill. She is currently out on bond after being arrested for a felony related to her involvement in a monument that was toppled in Portsmouth which led to a serious injury.