By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Another attempt is being made in Jefferson City to increase the penalty for killing a police dog.
The legislation, named in honor of St. Joseph’s K-9 Max shot and killed in the line of duty in 2021, is sponsored by state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville.
Luetkemeyer’s measure would enhance the penalty for killing a police dog from current law, which is a low-level felony.
“This just recognizes the tremendous service that these law enforcement K-9s perform within the police department,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “They put their lives on the line to keep their human partners safe and we need to make sure that the law’s protecting them.”
At present, someone convicted of killing a police dog can be charged with a Class E felony, a low-level felony count often associated with property crimes. Luetkemeyer’s legislation, called Max’s Law, would make it a Class D felony, carrying a possible seven-year prison sentence.
Luetkemeyer, a Republican, says the current penalty for killing a police dog is far too light.
“We heard testimony during committee when we had the bill in the Judiciary Committee where we found out that breaking the window of a police car, which admittedly is a serious crime, that carries a stiffer penalty right now than killing a law enforcement K-9 in the line of duty,” according to Luetkemeyer. “That makes absolutely no sense. So, Max’s Law is going to fix that.”
Luetkemeyer says the story of Max’s death, fatally shot on June 30th of 2021 while in pursuit of a fleeing suspect, told by his handled Officer Lucas Winder has struck a chord with lawmakers.
“And we heard very emotional testimony as I mentioned from Officer Winder down in Jefferson City and it really went to show that these law enforcement dogs, they really are partners of their police handlers in the truest sense. They are their partners.”
Max’s Law passed the Missouri Senate 25-to-9. It now moves to the House. Luetkemeyer is optimistic it will pass this year. Last year, the Missouri House passed the measure, but it stalled in the Senate.
