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| Date: | February 10, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Public Safety Dog Bill Passes Committee Inspection |
St. Paul- The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee passed a bill on Tuesday, authored by Senator Dan Hall (R-Burnsville). Senate File 121 would increase penalties for intentionally injuring public safety dogs and would require a person convicted of this crime to pay mandatory restitution.
“These dogs are a critical part of the law enforcement team,” said Sen. Hall. “After years of training and a significant financial investment, these dogs assist in tracking down perpetrators and victims, providing insight to officers on crime scene investigations. Harming a police dog can result in permanent injuries, ‘killing’ its career in law enforcement,” added Sen. Hall. “We need these highly trained dogs protecting the public and working with their partners.”
Present at the hearing was Major, the K9 who was attacked last November in Maplewood in an incident this bill aims to prevent. Officer John Jorgensen, of the Roseville K9 Police Unit and Major’s partner, testified on behalf of the bill. St. Paul Police Officer Mark Ficcadenti gave supporting testimony. Several other K9 officers from around the metro were present including Burnsville Police Officer Dan Long with his K9 Partner, Dagger.
Under current statute, killing a police dog is a two-year felony, with substantial or greater bodily harm a gross misdemeanor. Senate File 121 updates the law by extending the felony charge to greater or bodily harm, making a gross misdemeanor “demonstrable harm,” and adding a third tier, an intentional assault of a police dog, a misdemeanor offense.
In addition, current law only allows for permissive restitution, in lieu of fine, up to $5,000. Senate File 121 changes permissive restitution for the death of a police dog to mandatory restitution for all levels of injury to a police dog, removing all caps.
The House companion bill, HF141, was also heard on Tuesday in the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee, where it passed unamended, and will be sent back to the House to be heard a second time.
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Senator Dan Hall (SD40) was elected to the State Senate in 2010. He is the Vice Chair for the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and serves on the Health and Human Services and the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. He encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at
