TALLAHASSEE — Penalties will get much more stiff for committing crimes against police canine underneath a monthly bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The monthly bill (HB 1047) will maximize the penalty from a 1st-diploma misdemeanor to a 3rd-diploma felony for “intentionally maliciously” touching, hanging or triggering bodily damage to canine functioning with police, research-and-rescue officers or firefighters.
The amplified penalty also would apply to men and women who harm police horses.
“In Florida, again-the-blue contains supporting our K-9s that fearlessly safeguard their handlers and use their exceptional expertise to assistance folks in strategies that individuals are not able to,” DeSantis claimed in a organized statement.
“If criminals select to intentionally hurt these animals, the penalties need to be harsh.”
Penalties will be bumped up from second-diploma to very first-degree misdemeanors for individuals who interfere or attempt to interfere with law enforcement dogs or horses executing their responsibilities.
The law also will make it a 3rd-degree felony to “knowingly and willfully” resist, obstruct or oppose police canines or horses “by providing or undertaking violence” to the animals. The measure will go into impact in Oct.
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