Baker Seeks to Toughen Penalties on People Who Assault Cops 

Governor Charlie Baker

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker has filed legislation to toughen laws and boost potential penalties for people charged with assaulting a police officer, a month after an Auburn officer was slain by a man with history of scuffles with law enforcement.

The Republican governor’s legislation filed Thursday would upgrade causing serious bodily injury to an officer from a misdemeanor to a felony and boost the maximum prison time to 10 years; require judges to sentence people convicted of seriously injuring an officer to prison time and not probation; and allow judges to hold a person charged with assaulting on officer without bail if appropriate.

Auburn Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. was shot and killed during a May 22 traffic stop by a man with a lengthy criminal record that included assaults on police.