Ohio bill would mandate life sentence or death penalty for killing police officers, other public servants

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recently introduced Ohio bill would mandate a life sentence or the death penalty for individuals who murder police officers or other public servants.

House Bill 372, sponsored by Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton),  would increase the penalties for aggravated murder when the victim is a police officer, prosecutor, first responder, or member of the military.

Under the bill, those convicted of killing people who hold these positions would face a sentence of either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The legislation was named the “Larry Henderson Act,” after a 57-year-old Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy who was killed in May while working a traffic detail at the University of Cincinnati’s spring commencement. Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, allegedly intentionally crashed into Henderson a day after his 18-year-old son was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer, who has not been publicly named. 

“Our first responders should be able to do their jobs without fear of violent retaliation,” Abrams said in a statement. “And the families of deceased first responders shouldn’t have to go through the stress and grief of wondering whether or not the parole board will keep their loved ones’ murderer behind bars.”

Ohio law already classifies killing a police officer, first responder or military member as aggravated murder — the most serious homicide charge in the state — if the offender knew or had reasonable cause to know the victim held one of these positions. The bill seeks to add prosecutors to the list of positions that warrant an aggravated murder charge. 

Currently, the punishment for aggravated murder in Ohio is the death penalty or life imprisonment; however, depending on a judge’s sentence, an offender may be granted parole after 20 years.

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) filed a similar piece of legislation at the federal level in May, which is also named the Larry Henderson Act. The proposal would create a new mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison for anyone convicted of assault on a federal officer. Current law allows for a sentence of one to 20 years in prison, depending on a variety of factors, such as if a deadly weapon was involved. 

Henderson served with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for 33 years. Hinton faces multiple charges in relation to Henderson’s death, including two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder and two counts of felonious assault. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. 

Prosecutors say Hinton killed Henderson hours after seeing body camera footage of his son, Ryan, being fatally shot by a police officer. Authorities have stated Ryan Hinston fled from a stolen vehicle and was armed. Charges were not pressed against the officer, with Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich concluding the use of force was legally justified.

Rodney Hinton Jr.’s defense has indicated that they believe he had a mental health episode triggered by seeing the body camera video when he struck Henderson.

HB 372, introduced on June 23, awaits a committee assignment and first hearing.