Contributed file photo by Bradley County Sheriff’s Office / Bradley County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Joker was shot Sept. 22, 2021, during a foot pursuit near Interstate 75’s exit 20.NASHVILLE – “Joker’s Law,” the Tennessee bill seeking to boost criminal penalties for the injuring or killing of a police dog or other government service animal, is drawing criticisms from a retired police officer-turned legislator who believes the measure goes too far.
The lawmaker, Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, cautioned House Criminal Justice Committee members last week during a hearing that as House Bill 1646 has been amended, someone convicted of shooting a police dog could end up serving more time than if they shot the accompanying human officer.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Mark Hall, R-Cleveland, following last year’s shooting of Joker, a Bradley County Sheriff’s Office K-9 that was shot multiple times while trying to nab a group of juvenile suspects in a chase involving an alleged car theft. Following surgeries, Joker is back at work.
Hall’s bill raises the penalty for injuring or killing a service animal from one to two years in prison and fines of up to $3,000 for a first-time offender to eight to 12 years and fines of up to $25,000.
“It takes the shackles off of the DA and it allows him to address the proper crime depending on the aggressiveness of the act,” Hall told Judiciary Committee members last week as he argued for an amended version of the bill. “This bill is endorsed by the Tennessee Sheriffs Association and all 95 sheriffs.”