The Columbia Police Officers' Association had a hand in legislation passed on the final day of this year's session that would make it a felony to disarm a law enforcement agent of any weapon, not just his or her handgun.

The bills await Gov. Jay Nixon's signature.

Dale Roberts, executive director of the CPOA, said Columbia police Officers Clint Sinclair and Patrick Corcoran came to him with concerns about how people sometimes try to take weapons from officers during fights. Knowing the law as it stands is generally worded and refers only to the gun, Roberts sought the help of state Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia.

The pair crafted language that was eventually attached to at least two bills � House Bill 1231 and Senate Bill 656 � that refines the current statute to include items such as an officer's Taser, pepper spray or other typically nonlethal weapons.

Language pertaining to disarming an officer is nearly identical in each bill. Webber initially tried to get the change passed as a stand-alone in HB 2190 but said he thought it had a better chance at landing on Nixon's desk as part of other legislation. State Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, sponsored Senate Bill 656, the main goal of which changed some provisions pertaining to firearms and corporate security advisers.

Webber, a military veteran, said he went on a ride-along with police about the time Roberts brought the idea to him and realized that most officers work alone. His bill received overwhelming bipartisan support.

"The idea here, and what I think it does, is provides them as much legal protection as we can and make it clear you don't touch a police officer when they're conducting their duties," Webber said yesterday.

Some critics had concerns that law enforcement will apply the statutory protections to cases where an offender isn't actually trying to disarm the officer, Roberts said.

"It's like anything else" law enforcement does, he said. "Officers use their discretion every day. � They have to be able to make the case; the prosecutor has to examine" the case.

Webber echoed Roberts' comments, adding that the judicial system can expose abuse of the law. He said he has no indication of whether Nixon will sign, veto either bill or let them pass without his signature.

"We'll just see what he does on that," Webber said. "That's why we put it in multiple bills."

This article was published in the Wednesday, May 28, 2014 edition of the Columbia Daily Tribune with the headline "Bills aim to shield officers;�Governor has yet to sign them."