Tenn. ‘Back the Blue Act’ harshens penalties for those who assault law enforcement officers

By Joanna Putman
Police1

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A new Tennessee law, called the “Back the Blue Act,” has been enacted to harshen penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, 10 News reported.

Trending

Federal law enforcement

DHS: ICE officer’s face severely injured by detainee amid escalating violence toward officers

The Houston-area officer sustained facial burns and a cut requiring 13 stitches after a suspect threw a metal coffee cup at him, the Department of Homeland Security stated

November 07, 2025 10:59 AM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Officer-Involved Shootings

BWC: Suspect repeatedly rams cruisers, pins Chicago officer between vehicles before fatal OIS

As Chicago officers blocked in a suspect with two cruisers, the suspect began to accelerate forwards and ram both vehicles; as officers approached, he pinned one to a cruiser

November 06, 2025 12:32 PM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Arrests and Sentencing

Suspect who shot and wounded Texas officer, K-9 taken into custody, ending 4-day manhunt

Days after shooting a Jacksonville PD officer and her K-9 partner, Bobby Michael Dennis was found hiding in a wooded area and taken into custody using the officer’s handcuffs

November 06, 2025 11:15 AM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Artificial Intelligence

Fla. sheriff’s office cuts down dispatcher OT by automating non-emergency calls with AI

AI assistant “Ava” handles a range of lower-priority issues for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, such as noise complaints, minor traffic issues and potholes

November 06, 2025 12:50 PM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Those convicted of assaulting officers, now a Class E felony, will face a $10,000 fine and a minimum sentence of 60 days in prison, according to the report.

The law differentiates assaults on law enforcement from attacks on other first responders, according to the report Assaulting other first responders is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a $5,000 fine and a minimum of 30 days in prison.

Some departments in Tennesse have reported an increase of assaults on police officers. For example, in 2022, the Knoxville Police Department stated 63 officers were listed as victims in assault reports, 10 News reported. So far in 2024, 30 officers have reported being assaulted.

“They don’t sign up to be shot,” said Phil Keith, a former Knoxville Police Department chief. “They sign up to be public servants. Here in East Tennessee, these most recent ones are just ambush attacks, and that’s where we’ve seen the greatest increase nationwide.”