RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Gov. Roy Cooper has signed legislation which raises criminal penalties against those who assault on-duty officers with a gun and is named for a slain state trooper.

Cooper signed on Wednesday the measure named for Trooper Kevin Conner after it was approved last week by the General Assembly. Conner was fatally shot last year after stopping a vehicle on a Columbus County road for speeding. Two people await trial in Conner’s death.

Cooper said he called Conner’s widow to tell her he signed the measure.

The measure also increases penalties when emergency service workers who are seriously attacked and provides an additional $100,000 death benefit to the survivors of slain public safety employees.

Cooper said the law will deter future violence against people who work to keep communities safe.

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