4 ms·

So I did some googling and like most things, "it's complicated." It varies by state, but killing a police dog can put you in jail for 10 years (and this has ha

So I did some googling and like most things, "it's complicated." It varies by state, but killing a police dog can put you in jail for 10 years (and this has happened) and that is a federal law. There are some states pursuing stricter measures themselves where killing a canine officer is equivalent to killing a human officer. As to what I said about killing a police dog having a harsher punishment, that was based on a single anecdote and I meant that the judges serve harsher punishments, not that the laws themselves are stricter. https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900010289/senate-approves-tougher-penalty-for-killing-a-k-9-police-dog.html https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900010289/senate-approve... https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96229&page=1 https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96229&page=1 https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/man-who-killed-pittsburgh-police-dog-be-sentenced/46088200 https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/man-who-killed-pittsburgh-po...

takeda 8y ago
> It varies by state, but killing a police dog can put you in jail for 10 years (and this has happened) and that is a federal law. There are some states pursuing stricter measures themselves where killing a canine officer is equivalent to killing a human officer. Killing another person can get you life in prison or capital punishment (depending on state) that's way worse than 10 years.
- unethical_ban 8y ago
  There IS a law for 10 years. There ARE some states that make it like killing a human officer. The MAX for killing a person is death penalty. See where your argument loses some teeth?
masonic 8y ago
and that is a federal law. There is no such Federal law, as Federal law has no nexus in a local police encounter (unless there is a civil rights element).
- ddingus 8y ago
  Or one encounters federal police. DHS is out there and on patrol now.
  - masonic 8y ago
    There is no such Federal law. Animal cruelty to a dog owned by a Federal agency would be a state statute.
    - Fezzik 8y ago
      Exactly. The only Federal Law re animals is the Animal Welfare act, which only has to do with research animals. All 50 states have animal cruelty laws.
      - pdkl95 8y ago
        https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1368 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1368 18 U.S. Code § 1368 - Harming animals used in law enforcement (a) Whoever willfully and maliciously harms any police animal, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not more than 1 year. If the offense permanently disables or disfigures the animal, or causes serious bodily injury to or the death of the animal, the maximum term of imprisonment shall be 10 years.
        Fezzik 8y ago
        I love learning from my mistakes! I misread the preamble (for lack of a better word) to the Animal Welfare Act’s Federal website. It says it is the only Federal Law addressing animals... or the research of: https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act
        masonic 8y ago
        And when does 18 US Code have any Nexus for the example situation?. Hint: not in the stated examples, outside Federal land. Look up prosecutions under this code for the situation described, whether or not a conviction was won. I'm guessing the number will be about... zero. Wherever you went to law school, ask about a refund.

takeda 8y ago

> It varies by state, but killing a police dog can put you in jail for 10 years (and this has happened) and that is a federal law. There are some states pursuing stricter measures themselves where killing a canine officer is equivalent to killing a human officer. Killing another person can get you life in prison or capital punishment (depending on state) that's way worse than 10 years.

unethical_ban 8y ago
There IS a law for 10 years. There ARE some states that make it like killing a human officer. The MAX for killing a person is death penalty. See where your argument loses some teeth?

masonic 8y ago

and that is a federal law. There is no such Federal law, as Federal law has no nexus in a local police encounter (unless there is a civil rights element).

ddingus 8y ago
Or one encounters federal police. DHS is out there and on patrol now.
- masonic 8y ago
  There is no such Federal law. Animal cruelty to a dog owned by a Federal agency would be a state statute.
  - Fezzik 8y ago
    Exactly. The only Federal Law re animals is the Animal Welfare act, which only has to do with research animals. All 50 states have animal cruelty laws.
    - pdkl95 8y ago
      https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1368 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1368 18 U.S. Code § 1368 - Harming animals used in law enforcement (a) Whoever willfully and maliciously harms any police animal, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not more than 1 year. If the offense permanently disables or disfigures the animal, or causes serious bodily injury to or the death of the animal, the maximum term of imprisonment shall be 10 years.
      - Fezzik 8y ago
        I love learning from my mistakes! I misread the preamble (for lack of a better word) to the Animal Welfare Act’s Federal website. It says it is the only Federal Law addressing animals... or the research of: https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act
      - masonic 8y ago
        And when does 18 US Code have any Nexus for the example situation?. Hint: not in the stated examples, outside Federal land. Look up prosecutions under this code for the situation described, whether or not a conviction was won. I'm guessing the number will be about... zero. Wherever you went to law school, ask about a refund.