Senator Hoffman Bill Introduced in Gun Violence Prevention Hearing

(St. Paul, MN) — State Senator John Hoffman of Champlin is sponsoring a bill to increase the penalties for impersonating a peace officer. Hoffman was not in attendance at Monday’s Senate working group hearing, but the bill was read by Senator Ron Latz of St. Louis Park. It would make it a felony and a first time offense would be punishable by two years in prison and $4,000 fine. The fines would more than double if the offender gains access to a building or uses a vehicle that resembles a law enforcement vehicle. Repeat offenders could be sentenced to 10 years and a $20,000 fine. The attacker in the Hoffman and Hortman shootings was dressed to look like a police officer.

(photo: (Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune)