What Are the Penalties for Assaulting a Police Officer?

 Posted on January 08, 2025 in Assault

Facing charges for assaulting a police officer in Tennessee is a serious matter with serious legal consequences. If you are accused of assaulting a police officer, you need the help of a Tennessee criminal defense lawyer - even if you never put your hands on a cop. 

What Is Considered Assault Under Tennessee Law?

In 2020, Tennessee updated its laws to combine the definitions of assault and battery. Assault now covers physical harm to or offensive contact with another person, as well as threatening to cause harm. 

Punishments for assaulting a police officer are more severe than for a normal person, and just making a threat can be enough to put you in jail for long enough to lose your job, your reputation, and your relationships.  

What Are the Penalties for Threatening a Police Officer?

Even a threat of harm against a police officer can result in criminal charges. Threatening to harm an officer is typically charged as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and fines of up to $2,500. However, prosecutors may seek enhanced penalties if the threat was specific and credible or if it obstructed the officer’s duties.

What Are the Penalties for Punching a Police Officer?

Physically assaulting a police officer is considered a Class E felony in Tennessee. You will have to serve a minimum of 60 days in prison (and likely much more), and pay fines of up to $10,000. If the assault involves the use of a deadly weapon or causes serious bodily harm to the officer, the charge may be elevated to a Class C felony, with up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $15,000.

How Do Prosecutors Prove Assault Charges?

Prosecutors must prove several key elements to secure a conviction for assaulting a police officer. These include:

• Intent: You must have acted intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly to harm or threaten harm to the officer.

• Awareness of the officer's role: It must be clear that you knew the victim was a police officer performing official duties.

• Evidence of harm or threat: Physical evidence, witness statements, and body camera footage are commonly used to prove an assault.

Prosecutors often rely on the testimony of the officer and any additional witnesses, making it crucial to have a strong defense strategy.

Charged with Assaulting a Cop? Contact an Anderson County, TN Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have been charged with assaulting a police officer in Tennessee, you must take these charges seriously and get legal counsel immediately. Contact a Clinton, TN criminal defense attorney at The Baker Law Firm for a free consultation and to learn about how we can help. Call us today at 865-200-4117 to get started.