Paris, Tenn.–State Representative Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, has introduced legislation named for Henry County Corrections Officer Kyle Cronkright. House Bill 1704 seeks to heighten the punishment for assaults committed against law enforcement officers, correctional officers, jailers or other employees of penal institutions, detention facilities or jails.
Cronkright, who was formerly with the Benton County Sheriff’s Department before joining the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, was recently punched in the face by an inmate at the Henry County Jail.
Griffey said Cronkright was surprised that such an offense was only classified as a misdemeanor offense. As a result, he approached Griffey and requested that Griffey address it through legislation.
“I agreed with Kyle Cronkright that an assault against a law enforcement officer should be classified as a higher level offense and subject to stiffer punishment, and I was more than happy to sponsor a bill to try and make that happen,” Griffey said.
Griffey’s “Kyle Cronkright Bill” increases the classification of an assault against an officer from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class E Felony offense with a mandatory minimum sentence to be served at 100%. It also increases the offense of aggravated assault when committed against a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, jailer or other employee of a penal institution, detention facility or jail one classification higher.
“In other words, an offense of aggravated assault that would otherwise be a Class C Felony would be a Class B Felony if committed against a law enforcement officer,” Griffey said.
Griffey noted, “As a former Assistant District Attorney and Assistant Attorney General, I firmly stand behind law enforcement officers across Tennessee, who risk their lives every day for our protection and the safety of our communities, and I want to do anything and everything I can to support them.”
The “Kyle Cronkright Bill” is not the only piece of legislation Griffey is sponsoring this legislative session to support law enforcement officers. He has also sponsored House Bill 1706, which would impose a fee on international money transfers by illegals and use a portion of the money generated (projected to be approximately $500 Million in 2021) to increase the wages of law enforcement officers in TN.
Additional bills Griffey is co-sponsoring in support of law enforcement are:
* House Bill 1615, which provides state funds for the funeral expenses of any correctional employee killed in the line of duty;
* House Bill 1801, which makes state correctional officers who are members of the state retirement system eligible for service retirement after completing 25 years of creditable service;
* House Bill 1805, also known as the “Spencer Bristol Act”, which is named after a law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 30, 2019 pursuing a fleeing suspect following a crash and high speed chase. The bill increases penalties for evading arrest when a law enforcement officer is injured or dies during a pursuit involving a fleeing subject. It makes the offense a Class A Felony if the officer is killed and a Class C felony if the officer is injured;
* House Bill 1868, which enhances the punishment for assault by one classification if the assault is committed against a first responder; and
* House Bills 1878 and 1979, which would establish retirement credit for military service.
“Supporting all law enforcement officers across all agencies in TN from city police departments to county sheriff departments to the Tennessee Highway Patrol and TBI will remain a priority for me as long as I remain in the legislature,” Griffey said.