Stiffer penalties sought for police assault

City police Officer Scott Allen was attacked in February 2002 by a man who later proved to be in violation of his probation.

"He tackled me," Officer Allen said. "We went up into the air, fell to the ground. He struck me with a closed fist. I chased him."

It was only after he reached out to grab the man's jacket that he realized he had broken his collarbone. The injury took him off active duty for seven months.

Officer Allen joined state lawmakers at the General Assembly yesterday to support proposal to impose greater penalties for assaults on police officers. Supporters say the current law sets tougher penalties for...