In recent months the nation has been witness to several viral incidents captured on video of NYPD officers being doused with water, and in some cases even buckets thrown at their heads. This is completely unacceptable, and action must be taken.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has launched an online petition calling for state legislation to increase penalties for those individuals who target police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, military reservists and other public safety personnel. We need new legislation that further protects our heroes and enhances public safety by deterring criminal acts that target public protection professionals.

Suffolk County stands with the entire law enforcement community across this state and has zero tolerance for the abysmal behavior and appalling actions that took place in New York City this month towards NYPD Officers. We need to bring all stakeholders to the table to develop a sensible and comprehensive bill that protects New York’s law enforcement community and first responders, and holds their assailants responsible.

By signing this petition you are supporting the County Executive’s efforts to pass this law in Albany.

An attack on police officers represents an attack on all of us, on public safety and on the rule of law. It’s an attack on the men and women who choose to put on a uniform and go out every single day, potentially putting their health and safety at risk for people they’ve never met.