STATEHOUSE (May 31, 2023) – Gov. Eric Holcomb recently ceremonially signed into law legislation authored by State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) to shield firefighters’ home addresses from public view after a local incident sparked the idea.
In 2021, Evansville firefighter Jonathan Wright was attacked and stabbed while on a medic run, and feared the person would retaliate against him and his family. That’s when Wright tried to have his name and home address shielded from appearing on public records, but his request was denied due to state law. After hearing about Wright’s situation, O’Brien crafted legislation to ensure that protection was extended to paid and volunteer firefighters, just like other public safety officers.
“Just as law enforcement and judges already have their addresses shielded from public view, it was clear that those same protections needed to be extended to our firefighters who also serve on the frontlines,” O’Brien said. “I’m incredibly proud to have worked with Jonathan, the Evansville Fire Department and other leaders in the fire service to ensure the law was changed this session to support our firefighters.”
Wright, members of the Evansville Fire Department and other stakeholders recently joined O’Brien at the Statehouse where Gov. Eric Holcomb formally signed House Enrolled Act 1578 into law during a special ceremony. The Indiana Fire Chiefs Association and the Professional Firefighters Union of Indiana supported the bill, and O’Brien thanked Wright for also providing his testimony during the legislative session.
