Madison – Representative Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) gave the following statement after the Assembly passed Rep. Donovan’s authored Senate Bill 514 and 573. Senate Bill 514 received bipartisan support in the Senate and was passed unanimously by a voice vote in the Assembly. Senate Bill 573 received nearly unanimous support as it passed 94-3. Rep. Donovan said:

“With the rising cost of living, the average person looks to find ways to be more efficient. We often forget that our public services have also been effected by this elevated cost of living which has only made their job more difficult. Our police departments and local governments are no exception to this. We owe them these resources to directly ensure that their officers are adequately trained to protect their communities and themselves,”

Senate Bill 573 addresses the increased costs of training head-on by doubling the reimbursement rate from the Department of Justice to local police departments from $160 to $320 per law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill specifies that law enforcement departments will receive these funds directly instead of being received to the municipality first and later transferred. Thus ensuring every dollar goes directly to our departments.

Senate Bill 514 combats the epidemic of reckless driving and the many that flee from police as a result. This legislation increases the penalties for fleeing an officer by one classification for every form of the offense. Mandatory minimum sentencing is also included so criminals must serve at least 10% of the maximum sentence for causing great bodily harm or death.

“The criminals terrorizing our streets are the number one inhibitor of public safety in Milwaukee County—I don’t think many would disagree with me,” Rep. Donovan said. “We have seen the tactics of diminishing law enforcement’s ability to pursue criminals only result in an exponential growth in crime. This legislation sends a message that criminals are on borrowed time and there is no escaping the long arm of the law.”

“The victims, district attorneys, law enforcement, and now the Legislature are all behind this legislation. I believe it would be wise for Governor Evers to take note and sign this legislation into law without delay.