Anti-crime legislation one step away from passage
MADISON, WI… Criminals who damage and deface historic monuments on public property would face stiffer penalties under legislation (2025 Senate Bill 394) authored by State Senator André Jacque (New Franken) and State Representative William Penterman (Hustisford), which passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety today on a vote of 5-3.
In recent years, Wisconsin has witnessed a number of its valuable historic monuments being damaged or destroyed, such as the Hans Christian Heg statue, which honors an anti-slavery Wisconsin immigrant who organized a Norwegian regiment to fight in the Civil War, and the Forward statue, erected in 1996 to celebrate the women’s suffrage movement.
More recently, the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial was damaged and defaced with black spray paint this summer with threatening messages against police as part of a “No Kings” protest in Madison. The vandalism included derogatory phrases and symbols calling for violence against law enforcement intended to incite hostility, and disrespected the memory of the honored officers. The memorial has been vandalized at least a half-dozen times, including a 2020 attack by a sledgehammer, which required significant repair and replacement. Unfortunately, none of these incidents resulted in significant penalties for the perpetrators.
“These shrines, along with memorials and monuments across the state, serve as an important reminder of our shared history,” said Jacque. “They tell the story of Wisconsin and who we are as a people, and as such, should be protected and honored as records of the past that provide important lessons for the present.”
The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Board of Directors, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, and the Wisconsin Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police have all been vocal in urging lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 394 and its Assembly companion (Assembly Bill 401), noting that such reform is necessary to ensure that these repeated attacks are met with consequences that reflect the gravity of the offense.
“Law enforcement officers dedicate their lives to the protection of others. Those who desecrate the memory of our fallen heroes must be held fully accountable,” stated WPPA Executive Director Jim Palmer. “We call on lawmakers, public officials, and all who value respect for law enforcement service to support these bills.”
Identical legislation was previously vetoed by Gov. Evers. It will now move again to the full Senate for consideration.
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door, Kewaunee and Calumet Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
