TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – The killing of Sedgwick County police dog, Bane, has Kansas lawmakers considering increasing the fines associated with such a crime.
The Kansas House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice convened Thursday afternoon to discuss HB 2583, known as ‘Bane’s Law’. The bill would raise the current mandatory minimum fine for knowingly killing or maiming a police animal from $500 to $10,000.
Several police officers testified at the meeting, including Bane’s former handler, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy, Tyler Brooks.
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Brooks says the value of police dogs to their communities cannot be understated. His written testimony includes a story of Bane disarming and apprehending a suspect.
“Bane and I were personally thanked by the man’s family for pulling the suspect away from the knife so that we did not need to use deadly force,” Brooks said. “That man lived to see another day because of Bane.”