KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A new law passed by the legislature makes it a Class E felony to assault law enforcement officers. People convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers would be required to pay $10,000 and face a minimum sentence of 60 days in prison. It's named the "Back the Blue Act."
"They don't sign up to be shot. They sign up to be public servants," said Phil Keith, a former Knoxville Police Department chief. "Here in East Tennessee, these most recent ones are just ambush attacks, and that's where we've seen the greatest increase nationwide, is ambush attacks."
Assaulting other first responders, like nurses or firefighters, would carry a less severe penalty. It would be a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine and at least 30 days in prison.
The Knoxville Police Department said more assaults on police officers have been reported in the area. In 2022, it said 63 officers were listed as victims in assault reports. In 2023, that number increased to 88 and so far in 2024, 30 officers reported being assaulted.
"We're here to protect, and we're here to serve," said Kenneth Vittatoe, a KPD officer. "Being an officer was something I wanted to do from the time I was young."
He said before he became a police officer, he was a teacher — leaving the classroom for a job that brought more risk.
"You just have to be ready for things to change at a moment's notice," he said. "When you roll up to the house, you're always at a disadvantage."
The new law comes after several shootings of on-duty law enforcement.
In October 2023, Knox County deputy Tucker Blakely was fatally shot while responding to a domestic situation at a home. Around four months later, in February 2024, Blount County deputy Greg McCowan was fatally shot and his partner, Shelby Eggers, was also wounded. In June 2024, Blount County deputies Corbin Smith and Edward Walker were also wounded in a shooting.