Juneau -- Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River) has introduced legislation to protect undercover police officers.

House Bill 135 would allow undercover officers to wear a transmitting device or "wire" without first obtaining a warrant. It would permit backup officers to monitor their conversations. A court has ruled that, as the law now reads, officers cannot use a wire without a warrant. They must rely on hand signals or other visual communications.

"House Bill 135 is aimed at decreasing the risk for undercover officers," Kott said. "It would allow the monitoring of conversations without a warrant. These conversations could not be recorded, however, and could not be used as evidence at a trial. In addition, the officer monitoring the conversation would not be allowed to testify at a trial.

"This measure is about the safety of police officers," Kott said. "The difference of a few precious seconds in response time that this type of monitoring can provide could mean the difference between life and death for an undercover officer."

House Bill 135 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.