The National Police Association Endorses Ohio's Larry Henderson Act

INDIANAPOLIS, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When a police officer is killed in the line of duty, their families, loved ones, and colleagues experience unimaginable grief. It's a deep wound that gets ripped wide open when the offender becomes eligible for parole. New legislation introduced in the Ohio state legislature, called the Larry Henderson Act (H.B. 372), would prevent this by eliminating the possibility of parole for an adult convicted of the aggravated murder of a police officer.

This bill, introduced by Reps. Cindy Abrams (29) and Phil Plummer (39) is named for Larry Henderson, an on-duty Hamilton County sheriff's deputy who was intentionally and fatally struck by a car this past May. The National Police Association (NPA) endorses this bill, which has not yet been assigned to a committee. The text for the bill is here. 

Though the death penalty is legal in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine has issued an indefinite freeze on it. This makes it feasible that an offender receives early release from prison for killing a police officer.

The Larry Henderson Act modifies existing state law by mandating that juries and courts consider either the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole during the sentencing portion. 

"Killing a police officer is not only an assault on the U.S. Constitution. Having to bury a slain officer is emotionally devastating for the families and loved ones, who must re-experience their grief each time an offender is considered for parole," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. "Ohio's Larry Henderson Act guarantees that the full force of the law will be applied when someone is convicted of maliciously killing a police officer," Fitzsimmons added.

The NPA extends its gratitude to Reps. Abrams and Plummer for introducing the Larry Henderson Act, an Ohio state bill that would eliminate the parole option for the aggravated murder of a police officer and other protected classes. Although police officers leave for work each day knowing they may be killed, an ongoing war on police has made this reality more of a probability. Earlier this year, the FBI reported that 85,730 officers had been assaulted in 2024, marking a new 10-year record high. We encourage the Ohio legislature to prioritize and pass this important bill.

About the National Police Association: The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement efforts through advocacy, education, and law. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org. 

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SOURCE The National Police Association