LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Daniel Cameron believes "Kentucky will be the best place in America to be a police officer" if he's elected governor.
"I'm the law-and-order candidate and it's evidenced by the fact that nearly 200 law enforcement officials have endorsed this campaign," Cameron said releasing his 12-point public safety plan.
In the plan, Cameron proposes awarding recruitment and retention bonuses to boost police forces, calls for tougher penalties against drug traffickers found responsible for causing deaths in Kentucky, and pushes for a new law that would require prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against anyone convicted of killing a police officer.
"I do want to send a strong message that we want our law enforcement community to understand that they are protected and that they are cared for because they protect and serve our communities across the Commonwealth," said Cameron.
Cameron also proposes a state wiretapping law for Kentucky State Police, a standalone carjacking statute, mandatory DNA collection for serious felonies, and reforming the parole board by increasing the vote threshold for release and allowing the Governor to remove board members at-will.
On the issue of police accountability, Cameron said civilian review boards should be blocked from obtaining subpoena power.
"I'll never support a civilian review board having subpoena power that interferes with the duty of law enforcement and undermines public trust," said Cameron.
Public safety has risen to prominence in Kentucky's gubernatorial campaign.
At an event last month, Beshear touted his crime-fighting record, noting he pushed for large pay raises for state troopers as well as increased training for police officers. During his term as attorney general, Beshear said, he prosecuted child sex offenders, cleared a rape kit backlog and combated senior scams. The governor says he will seek additional funding for police training and body armor to protect law officers if he wins another term in November.
On Tuesday, Cameron criticized Beshear, calling him the "catch and release" candidate.
In response to Cameron's plan, the Beshear campaign spokesperson said:
"Daniel Cameron has refused to take any responsibility for crime as attorney general and helped cover for Matt Bevin's indefensible pardons for murderers and a child rapist. Unlike Cameron's record of covering for criminals and lying about grand jury proceedings, Andy Beshear actually delivered pay raises for law enforcement – leading to the largest Kentucky State Police recruiting class in years.”
Cameron's Public Safety Plan includes the following points:
- Increase recruiting and retention of police officers
- Pass a bill that requires prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for people convicted of killing an officer
- Block civilian review boards from getting subpoena power
- Highlight and honor police at key events such as National Police Week, Faith and Blue, and National Night Out
- Add a Kentucky State Police post in Louisville
- Pass a statewide wiretapping law for state police to aid in investigation on drug and gang-related crimes
- Reform the parole board by increasing the vote threshold for release and giving the governor power to remove members at-will
- Increase penalties for drug traffickers who kill Kentuckians
- Mandatory DNA collection for the most heinous crimes
- Pass standalone carjacking statute
- Advocate for group violence intervention to reduce gang violence
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
