DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – State Representative Rafael Anchía announced the filing of a legislative package on Monday in Dallas that, if passed, would increase public safety in response to the Dallas Methodist Hospital shooting that killed two healthcare workers, Jacqueline Pokuaa and Annette Flowers, last October.
The alleged shooter was out of jail on parole and had cut his ankle monitor before opening fire on the maternity unit.
Rep. Anchía was joined by Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, and officials from the City of Dallas, Methodist System, and Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.
Anchía is behind a bill that would make it a felony to cut an ankle monitor, and automatically force anyone who cuts their monitor to serve the remainder of their sentence behind bars.
“Ankle monitors do not work for violent criminals,” Chief Garcia said.
According to Garcia, cutting an ankle monitor is not currently a crime, but instead an administrative violation.
“Members are coming up to me and saying I had no idea it wasn’t already massively illegal to cut an ankle monitor,” Rep. Anchía insisted.
The representative is also behind a proposal to boost penalties for assaulting healthcare workers. In addition, he filed legislation that would protect “safe havens” like hospitals through requiring notification before a violent criminal on parole visits a hospital.
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