State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, has introduced legislation that would protect K-9 officers from heat-related deaths inside law enforcement vehicles.
The bill, which was referred to the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee this week, would require emergency vehicles transporting a K-9 officer be fitted with heat-detection devices that would trigger an alarm, honk the car horn and automatically lower the windows when a certain temperature is reached.
“The tragic loss of a police K-9 to overheating in Georgia [on Monday] is a somber reminder of the dangers our K-9 officers face, not just in Pennsylvania, but across the country,” Conklin said in a statement. “These loyal dogs risk their lives to protect and serve, and we must do our part to ensure their safety.”
Conklin dubbed the legislation “Totti’s Law” for a 2-year-old Department of Corrections drug interdiction dog that died in July 2016 in Centre County. A 2-year-old yellow labrador retriever, Totti was left inside a car for three nearly hours following a training exercise at Rockview state prison. After Totti was discovered, emergency care was administered and the dog was taken to a veterinarian, but he died of a heat-related seizure several hours later.
“This proposed legislation draws from painful experiences,” Conklin said. “Integrating these heat-detection devices into our police vehicles would prevent future tragedies, providing a safer environment for our K-9 officers.”
The devices, which are already used by some law enforcement agencies, cost an estimated $900, which Conklin called a small investment compared to the $20,000 it costs to train a police dog. But Conklin said the concern goes well beyond finances.
“Our K-9 officers are an invaluable resource,” Conklin noted. “Preserving their safety and well-being is not just a fiscal matter – it’s a moral obligation.”