New law shields firefighters' addresses after 2021 attack in Evansville

EVANSVILLE — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb formally signed a bill designed to protect firefighters' home addresses from public disclosure Wednesday.

Holcomb signed the bill, H.B. 1578, into law Wednesday during a ceremony at the Statehouse. Members of the Evansville Fire Department joined Holcomb and Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville), the bill's sponsor, for the signing.

The law, which ensures firefighters' addresses are shielded from public view just like police officers, comes after Evansville firefighter Jonathan Wright was attacked and stabbed in 2021. The incident led Wright to attempt to shield his home address out of fear of a second, retaliatory attack.

But state law wouldn't allow it. O'Brien drafted the legislation after hearing of Wright's situation.

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"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 stated in a news release.

The bill received support from the Evansville Fire Department and the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association. Wright also personally testified about his experience during the legislative session.

"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," O'Brien said.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: New law shields firefighters' addresses after 2021 attack in Evansville