Nashville, TN — In response to a series of violent incidents in Minnesota, including the killings of a lawmaker and her husband, a Tennessee legislator has introduced a bill aimed at cracking down on criminals who impersonate law enforcement officers.
Inspired by Minnesota Tragedy
Rep. Shaundelle Brooks (D-Nashville), the bill’s sponsor, said the idea came after learning about the tragic deaths of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. In these incidents, the accused allegedly disguised himself as a police officer when approaching the victims’ homes.
“It was something I woke up to, and I don’t know. It scared me,” Rep. Brooks said. “And it’s not about me, it’s about everyone because just like he came up to her door, he could have went up to someone else’s.”
The events, occurring over 1,000 miles away, prompted Rep. Brooks to examine Tennessee’s existing laws and recognize a gap in protections against officer impersonation during violent crimes.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The proposed legislation would:
- Make it a felony to impersonate a law enforcement officer while committing another violent crime.
- Impose a $5,000 penalty on offenders.
- Apply to impersonation of federal agents, including ICE, reflecting a growing national trend.
Rep. Brooks emphasized that the law is designed to protect lawmakers, the public, and police officers alike, highlighting that anyone could be a potential target.
“It could have been me, it could have been anyone else in Tennessee, and then I looked at our laws here and we didn’t have anything in place,” Brooks said. “I believe in prevention, so I thought, ‘Why not have something in place just in case?’”
Bipartisan Support Sought
Rep. Brooks hopes the bill will garner bipartisan support. She even considered having a Republican senator co-sponsor the legislation, emphasizing that threats from impersonators transcend party lines.
“These are elected officials, and I hope they are on board with it. We all could be affected by what happened. We should feel something,” Brooks said.
The bill targets not just politicians, but also the broader community, aiming to close a legal loophole that currently allows impersonators to commit violent crimes without enhanced penalties.
Next Steps
The Tennessee legislative session is scheduled to begin in January 2026, at which point the bill will be formally introduced and debated. Officials hope that this new law will provide deterrence against criminals attempting to exploit the authority associated with law enforcement uniforms and credentials.
The proposal has been praised as a proactive measure in safeguarding both public officials and ordinary citizens from potentially life-threatening encounters with individuals impersonating police or federal agents.
What are your thoughts on this proposed legislation? Share your views in the comments.
