Posted: | December 21, 2016 10:11 AM |
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From: | Representative Scott Conklin |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | K-9 Heat-detection Devices in Emergency Vehicles (former HB 2310) |
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation (HB 2310) requiring any emergency vehicle transporting a police dog to be equipped with a K-9 heat-detection device. On July 7, 2016, a drug-detecting dog named Totti was left inside a hot vehicle for over two hours after a training exercise at the State Correctional Institution Rockview. Sadly, Totti, a 2-year-old yellow lab, succumbed to the injuries sustained from being locked in the hot car. While an investigation into the matter is pending, I believe that we can do more to prevent similar incidences in the future. On July 21, 2016, my local news station aired a segment about police departments that utilize K-9 heat detection devices in police vehicles in order to ensure the safety of police dogs. When the inside of the vehicle reaches a certain temperature, these heat detection systems sound an alarm and the car horn, and automatically lower the windows. At a cost of around $900.00, I believe these machines are a reasonable safety measure than can prevent the loss of a trained police dog, which costs roughly $20,000.00. Accordingly, I will be introducing legislation that requires any emergency vehicle transporting a K-9 officer to be equipped with a K-9 heat-detection device. While I know there will be concerns associated with the cost of this life-saving necessity, the life of a police dog is no less valuable than that of his handler. Please join me in ensuring the continued safety of our K-9 protectors. Previous Cosponsors: D. COSTA, DAVIS, ELLIS, GERGELY, GILLEN, HANNA, HELM, JOZWIAK, W. KELLER, KORTZ, MAHONEY, McNEILL, MILLARD, D. MILLER, NEILSON, O'BRIEN, READSHAW, ROZZI, SAINATO AND WATSON |