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Iowa may consider tougher penalties after 2 officers killed

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November 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are considering imposing tougher penalties for violent acts against law enforcement officers following the fatal shootings of two officers earlier this month. Republican State Rep. Ken Rizer tells the Des Moines Register he thinks tougher penalties are needed after the Nov. 2 attacks that killed 24-year-old Urbandale Officer Justin Martin and 38-year-old Des Moines police Sgt. Anthony Beminio.

Iowa already has enhanced penalties for assaulting officers. Rizer wants to expand that concept to attempted murder and murder charges. Urbandale Police Chief Ross McCarty says Iowa should consider reinstating the death penalty for police.

But some people don’t think tougher penalties aren’t needed. Rita Bettis with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the killing an officer already receives the harshest sentence possible for first-degree murder.