Governor Greg Abbott today announced an effort to strengthen penalties for crimes committed against law enforcement officers – the Police Protection Act. “At a time when law enforcement officers increasingly come under assault simply because of the job they hold, Texas must send a resolute message that the State will stand by the men and women who serve and protect our communities,” said Governor Abbott. The proposal is punctuated by making it a hate crime for anyone to commit a crime against a law enforcement officer out of bias against the police. FOX 11