The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police is grateful for the decision of the Ohio Supreme Court today in Ohio v. Officer Thomas Caine White. 

In this decision, the Court ruled Ohio’s firearm specification statute which imposes a mandatory three-year prison term for criminal offenses committed using a firearm, does not apply to police officers acting in the line of duty and said:

"The purpose of the firearm specification is to enhance the punishment of criminals who voluntarily introduce a firearm while committing an offense and to deter criminals from using firearms. In enacting firearm specifications, the General Assembly recognized that “a criminal with a gun is both more  dangerous and harder to apprehend than one without a gun.” . . . But in contrast to those who freely choose to use a firearm while committing a crime, a firearm specification is not intended to deter a peace officer from possessing a firearm, because the officer is required to carry a firearm and permitted to use it, when necessary, in the course of carrying out the duties of a law enforcement officer."

We'd like to thank National Fraternal Order of Police President Chuck Canterbury, National FOP General Counsel Larry James from local firm Crabbe Brown & James and Ohio Fraternal Order of Police Chief Counsel

Paul Cox for advancing the friend of the court brief that helped bring about this result.

“It was the Fraternal Order of Police, and only the Fraternal Order of Police, who came to this officer’s aid in the Ohio Supreme Court.  This decision has huge implications for Ohio’s law enforcement officers and law enforcement officers across the country” stated National FOP President Chuck Canterbury.

“The job of a police officer is dangerous enough already. We need lawmakers and judges to remember that and, in this decision, the Ohio Supreme Court did” said Jay McDonald, Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio President.