PARIS – France’s prime minister is proposing tougher and faster punishment for people who attack the police, as the government pays a national tribute to the latest police officer killed in the line of duty.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will lead Tuesday’s ceremony in the southern city of Avignon to honor officer Eric Masson, killed last week in an apparent drug-related incident.
Four people have been arrested in the homicide investigation, the regional prosecutor said. It was the latest of several attacks targeting French police that have angered police unions and become a political issue ahead of regional elections in June and France's presidential election next year.