Ohio Senate passes Hopper Act

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WDTN) - The Ohio State Senate passed a bill Wednesday named for a fallen Clark County deputy.

The Deputy Suzanne Hopper Act provides critical information for police officers responding to emergency calls.

It gives the officers information about whether an offender has ever been sent to a mental health facility for treatment rather than prison time.

Deputy Hopper was shot while responding to a call involving a man with just that type of violent history.  Hopper and the other officers were unaware of his past.  She died on New Year's Day 2011 at Enon Beach.  Another officer was injured.

“Deputy Suzanne Hopper’s sacrifice in the line of duty inspired this piece of legislation, and when enacted, will provide law enforcement officers another tool to protect themselves, innocent members of the public, and even suspects,” said Senator Chris Widener, 10th district.  “If even one life is saved through this legislation, then we have done our duty to honor Deputy Hopper’s name and service to our state.”

If enacted, law enforcement personnel will be notified through the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) when individuals are convicted by a court for violent crimes and are ordered into mental health treatment or evaluation.

Senate Bill 7 now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration.