2015 Minnesota Statutes

609.596 KILLING OR HARMING PUBLIC SAFETY DOG Next .

Subdivision 1.Felony.

It is a felony for any person to intentionally and without justification cause the death of or great or substantial bodily harm to a police Previous dog Next , a search and rescue Previous dog Next , or an arson Previous dog Next when the Previous dog Next is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, search and rescue duties, or the Previous dog Next is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer, a trained handler, or an employee of a correctional facility. A person convicted under this subdivision may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

Subd. 2.Gross misdemeanor.

It is a gross misdemeanor for any person to intentionally and without justification cause demonstrable bodily harm to a police Previous dog Next , search and rescue Previous dog Next , or an arson Previous dog Next when the Previous dog Next is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, search and rescue duties, or the Previous dog Next is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer, a trained handler, or an employee of a correctional facility.

Subd. 2a.Misdemeanor.

It is a misdemeanor for any person to intentionally and without justification assault a police Previous dog Next , search and rescue Previous dog Next , or an arson Previous dog Next when the Previous dog Next is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, search and rescue duties, or the Previous dog Next is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer, a trained handler, or an employee of a correctional facility.

Subd. 2b.Mandatory restitution.

The court shall order a person convicted of violating this section to pay restitution for the costs and expenses resulting from the crime. Costs and expenses include, but are not limited to, the purchase and training of a replacement Previous dog Next and veterinary services for the injured Previous dog Next . If the court finds that the convicted person is indigent, the court may reduce the amount of restitution to a reasonable level or order it paid in installments.

Subd. 3.Definitions.

As used in this section:

(1) "arson Previous dog Next " means a Previous dog Next that has been certified as an arson Previous dog Next by a state fire or police agency or by an independent testing laboratory;

(2) "correctional facility" has the meaning given in section 241.021, subdivision 1, paragraph (f);

(3) "peace officer" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c); and

(4) "search and rescue Previous dog Next " means a Previous dog that is trained to locate lost or missing persons, victims of natural or other disasters, and human bodies.

History:

1987 c 167 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 3 s 35; 1999 c 77 s 1; 2001 c 7 s 87; 2011 c 9 s 1