Indiana lawmaker wants to make threatening police a felony

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - An Indiana lawmaker plans to introduce a bill that would make it a felony to threaten a specific law enforcement agency or other emergency personnel.

Republican state Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville says she made her intentions known now instead of closer to next year's legislative session in response to recent shootings of Dallas and Louisiana police officers.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports (http://bit.ly/2alarY6 ) McNamara said Friday she "couldn't sit on the sidelines while our law enforcement officers were being threatened."

If her proposal passes it would apply to all threats toward police. McNamara says Indiana's current intimidation statute covers only threats against individuals, not those made against a group or organization.

She says her bill's main target is people who make threats online and on social media.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com