Chile's president submits bill to ban insulting cops, stiffen penalties for attacks on police

SANTIAGO, Chile – Insulting a cop will become a crime in Chile if the country's president gets his way.

President Sebastian Pinera submitted legislation to Chile's Congress on Wednesday that if passed would make it a crime to insult police officers.

Pinera says the legislation also calls for stiffer penalties for those who physically harm police officers. Attacking police headquarters or vehicles would also become a crime.

Wide student protests in Chile are often infiltrated by violent anarchist groups and end with clashes between police and hooded vandals who throw rocks and firebombs.