American Samoa’s top law enforcement officials have lent their support to a House bill that provides “heightened punishment for the act of assaulting a police officer while in the actual performance of his[/her] duties.”
Attorney General Fepulea’i Arthur Ripley Jr., and Police Commissioner Tuaolo M.E. Fruean gave their verbal support during a House Legal Affairs Committee hearing yesterday on the measure, which is also supported by Alaalamua Filoiali’i, director of the Criminal Justice Planning Agency, who testified at the hearing.
Alaalamua’s office administers many federal grants from the U.S. Justice Department dealing with law enforcement.
Fepulea’i said he believes the measure is an excellent move by the Fono, and in line with laws in other U.S. jurisdictions, where there are increased penalties for an offense against a police officer.
However, he suggested to add to the measure others in the law enforcement field, such as immigration officers, and individuals with investigative authorities.
Alaalamua agreed, saying that there are also those considered “peace officers”, who should be included, such as probation officers and security officers at the port and the airport.
Both Fepulea’i and Alaalamua reiterated that these are only suggestions and that the final decision rests with the committee and the Fono.
During committee debate, there was both opposition and support to include Fepulea’i’s suggestions in the bill. Opposition believes the priority now should be police officers and the Fono can deal later with other types of law enforcement officers.
There was a concern from one lawmaker, who said that adding other law enforcement officers could provide a loophole in which a security guard would be considered.
House Vice Speaker Laolagi F.S. Vaeao, the bill’s sponsor, told his colleagues that the goal of the measure is to provide additional protection for police officers, adding that everyone is aware of a recent incident where police officers were shot at during the course of their official duties.
The incident the Vice Speaker was referring to occurred at Samoa Ford Motors compound in Tafuna where two 15-year olds allegedly shot at police officers who were responding to a call about a possible break-in at the car lot.
Laolagi said it’s also a good idea to add other law enforcement officers in the measure to provide additional protection for them, but a decision must be reached by the committee.
In the end, the committee agreed to table the bill for further discussion and a final decision before reporting to the floor for a vote. There is hope that this measure will be acted on before the current session ends the first week of October.
Current law provides punishment for persons who commit crimes for First, Second and Third degree assaults. The bill adds a new provision giving further punishments — both fines and jail time fines — for each category of persons involved in the assault of a police officer.
