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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 22:45 |
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) _ The South Dakota Legislature has given final
approval to a measure imposing tough penalties on people who injure
or kill drug-detection dogs used by law officers.
The bill makes a conviction for killing a law enforcement dog a
Class 6 felony, carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
Injuring a law enforcement dog would be a Class 1 misdemeanor,
carrying a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail.
Supporters say the dogs need to be protected because they are
important parts of law enforcement agencies, and it costs up to
$15,000 to train them.
The Senate voted 27-7 to pass the bill, which was approved
earlier by the House. It will become law if Gov. Mike Rounds
approves.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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