TALLAHASSEE (WFLA News) -- The Florida Senate votes to stand with four-legged friends in law enforcement by increasing the penalty for harming police dogs.
Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) filed the bill after a canine cop named Fang was gunned down in Jacksonville. Senator Tom Wright (R-Port Orange) spoke in support. He used to work as a cop in Minnesota and his partner was a canine. "I probably wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for these dogs," Wright said. "They're officers... (who) just happen to have four legs."
Bean's bill increases the penalty for harming a law enforcement canine from 5 years to as much as 15 years behind bars. It applies to police dogs, fire dogs, search and rescue dogs and police horses.
It passed the Senate 39-0. The House has yet to vote on the bill.
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