It’s important that the Commonwealth always stays ahead of the curve when it comes to the safety of our residents. We must remain proactive in our approach and seek to better respond to new issues that arise over time.
Passing Legislation to Make Communities Safer
Senator O’Connor has consistently endeavored to pass legislation that fights crime and violence in the Commonwealth. In 2016, he sponsored an amendment allowing rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to immediately suspend a driver if they have been cited for a serious safety violation.
Since the tragic death of Shana “Mini” Warner, a victim of domestic violence, Senator O’Connor has advocated for aggressive protection for anyone facing similar danger. In response to national gun violence tragedies, his legislation created “An Active Shooter/ Hostile Event Response” program, referred to as “ASHER”, as the standard guidelines for active shooter or hostile event situations in Massachusetts. In 2019, he also filed legislation to establish a grant program to assist municipalities without a School Resource Officer to afford one, believing in the ability of SRO’s to protect school campuses, foster a healthy social environment, and help students build positive relationships with law enforcement.
Aside from addressing crime and violence, Senator O’Connor advocates on behalf of the public on matters of public health. When it came to light that National Grid may have violated federal gas pipeline safety regulations, Senator O’Connor was vocal in supporting pushback from the Department of Public.
Working with Public Safety Officers
Senator O’Connor believes that those public safety officers that dedicate themselves to guaranteeing the safety of every Massachusetts resident are indispensable parts of our community. This is why Senator O’Connor fights for legislation that evaluates, reforms, and supports, our Police and Fire Departments. In 2018, Senator O’Connor supported “An act relative to the municipal police training fund”, which dedicated a funding mechanism to give our protectors the best training possible, so that they can meet the extreme demands of their job and confront the increasingly dangerous threats to our communities and to themselves. Senator O’Connor’s legislation has also helped to fund Massachusetts Fire Departments, providing them with the equipment and resources they need to save lives. Senator O’Connor co-sponsored a bill in 2018 that set up a bulk-purchasing program to buy extractors at a reduced price to clean fire gear, protecting fire fighters from the toxic carcinogens than can remain in gear after entering a burning building.
Investing in Safety
In addition to advocating for legislation that promotes the health and safety of constituents, Senator O’Connor frequently secures funding for programs and resources to further protect communities.
Examples of secured funding over the years includes:
- $10 Million for municipal police training across the Commonwealth
- $100,000 for structural repairs for the Humarock Fire Station in Scituate
- $99,000 to implement the Buyer Diversion Treatment Alternative Program in towns of Weymouth, Quincy, Braintree, and Randolph.
- $44,674 to Fire Departments across the South Shore for fire safety education programs.
- $19,616 in grants to South Shore Fire Departments for gear and equipment that will reduce firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals on the job
Notable Information
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Sponsored Legislation
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S1009 An Act relative to the protection of police officers
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S1568 An Act providing health insurance coverage to the surviving children of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty
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S1006 An Act relative to crimes against police officers
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Cosponsored Legislation
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H2037 An Act providing for the care and transportation of police dogs injured in the line of duty
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S1445 An Act providing mental wellness training for police officers
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H2224 An Act relative to injury disability application for firefighters
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For a question on any of Senator O’Connor’s votes or policy that he supports please click here to ask us.