Feb. 14 (UPI) — The Kansas Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill criminalizing the killing of police dogs and horses.
The vote was 107-4 for the so-called Bane’s Law. It now heads to the state Senate.
Kansas House Bill 2583 elevates the killing of a police dog to a felony with a minimum of 90 days incarceration and a fine of $10,000. It also requires restitution that includes covering the cost of training a new law enforcement dog, paying for burial expenses and any veterinary treatment costs.
“When I learned the penalties for harming or killing a police dog were so minimal, I knew we needed to do better for these heroic animals,” Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said. “Police service dogs, like K-9 Bane, are members of the police department and truly serve as a partner to their officer/handler. I’m proud to have been a part of making this important law a reality to protect the law enforcement animals who serve Kansans every day.”
The bill was prompted by the death of Bane, a Sedgwick County police dog, that was beaten to death after chasing an armed suspect into a storm drain.