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Rep. Mueller plan creates tougher penalties for disarming a police officer
RELEASE|March 12, 2019
Contact: Mike Mueller

State Rep. Mike Mueller today introduced a bipartisan plan to increase the penalty for criminals who disarm – or attempt to disarm – a police officer.

Mueller, of Linden, said a criminal who commits an unarmed robbery would currently be punished more severely than an individual who attempts to disarm a police officer. His legislation would change that.

“I find it troubling that someone faces a stiffer penalty for committing an unarmed robbery than using force or violence to take possession of an officer’s duty weapon,” Mueller said. “Punishments must fit the crime.”

Mueller, who recently retired after 19 years as a sheriff’s deputy, speaks from experience. Suspects attempted to disarm him on two separate occasions during the course of his service.

The legislation was inspired by the tragic death of Oak Park Police Officer Mason Samborski, a Howell native who was killed on Dec. 28, 2008, by a suspect who took his firearm and executed him after he had become incapacitated during a struggle with the suspect.

House Bills 4315-16 would increase the maximum sentence for attempting to disarm a police officer from a five-year felony to a 10-year felony and ups the penalty for disarming a police officer from a 10-year felony to a 20-year felony.

Mueller introduced the plan alongside Democratic Rep. David LaGrand, a former prosecutor from Grand Rapids.

“This is a common sense plan that we can all support, regardless of which side of the aisle we sit on,” Mueller said.

LaGrand agreed.

“Police officers must know that legislators have their backs,” LaGrand said.

The plan has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

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