DOVER, Del. — Delaware Governor Matt Meyer and Attorney General Kathy Jennings want state lawmakers to act soon on two bills they say would help keep people safe. They are pointing to a recent shooting in Minnesota, where a man pretended to be a police officer, as a clear example of the danger.
One of the bills, House Bill 152, would raise the penalties for pretending to be a police officer or emergency worker. It would also update the law to include people who impersonate federal officers. According to Meyer and Jennings, the bill is meant to stop people from using fake authority to harm or mislead others.
The other bill, House Bill 153, would make it clear that private citizens or groups do not have the legal right to arrest or hold someone unless the law specifically says they can. Meyer and Jennings said this bill is about making sure everyone’s rights are respected.
“These are commonsense public safety measures. When someone abuses the public trust by impersonating an officer or unlawfully detains another person, it puts lives at risk and undermines the very foundations of our justice system,” Meyer and Jennings said. “These bills are about more than punishment. They are about preventing abuse of power and ensuring Delawareans can trust those who are supposed to protect them. We must do everything we can to restore and reinforce public confidence in our justice system.”
Both bills are still being reviewed by the General Assembly.