Injured police dog witnesses MN bill signing

[jmur5074]

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Major the police dog helped usher in stiffer criminal penalties in Minnesota for people who harm or kill public safety animals.
Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday with Major at his side. The German shepherd is now retired from the Roseville Police Department after a robbery suspect stabbed him four times last November.
Dayton praised public safety dogs for their “courage and heroism” and said assaults against them are an assault on the integrity of society.


More at the link:


Injured Police Dog Witnesses Minn. Bill Signing « CBS Minnesota

[Pinki]

That is good news

[McCrackhd]

So, is the jackass that stabbed Major dead? Also, what are the new penalties gonna be?

[jmur5074]

So, is the jackass that stabbed Major dead? Also, what are the new penalties gonna be?

No, he is not dead. He did get his arms all bit up, presumably by Major (no one actually witnessed the stabbing or the apprehension by Major as far as I know) and he was later chewed on by a second dog when he was taken into custody.

MN's crime for harming a public safety dog is a Gross Misdemeanor. It's between a Misdemeanor and a Felony, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine I believe.

The guy that stabbed him was charged with harming a public safety dog and felony theft, among other things. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail, with a year and a day stayed as long as he follows his probation for the next 4 years. (Yeah I know). He was also ordered to pay restitution for medical expenses for Major. (YEAH...I know.)

The only real change to the law that I'm aware of is that it will require the defendants to pay restitution for medical expenses, AND require them to pay for the cost to purchase and train a new dog. It's really kind of a stupid new law because the courts can already make people pay restitution. I'd rather see stiffer criminal penalties. Something worse than 120 days in jail. Sentimental value aside, that guy probably cost that police dept. at least 20 grand by taking their dog out of the game.

[ms1600]

I had always thought that K9s were considered police officers for all intents and purposes. I guess I was mistaken. I think that people who run/resist K9s should be charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, failing to stop at the direction of an officer, etc.





And since we're talking about Police dogs, a shameless plug for Dollars for Dogs:
http://dollarsfordogs.org/

[Captain America]

Good deal.

[jmur5074]

Additional information:

Major and his handler are up for the AMW All Stars Award

Here is an article on it:
K9 Major and Roseville Officer up for National Award | KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul


And here is where you can go to vote:
AMW | All-Star 2011 Nominee | John Jorgensen

[Buttercup]

Additional information:

Major and his handler are up for the AMW All Stars Award

Here is an article on it:
K9 Major and Roseville Officer up for National Award | KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul


And here is where you can go to vote:
AMW | All-Star 2011 Nominee | John Jorgensen

Voted!

[lewisipso]

Voted.