New NJ Law Increases Penalties For Criminals That Kill Police Dogs

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ (CBS) -- Police and rescue dogs in New Jersey are now legally more valuable due to a new law that increases the penalties for those who intentionally kill them.

Remember Schultz, the Gloucester Township K-9 killed last year while apprehending a robbery suspect? His alleged killer could do 3 to 5 years if convicted, but future cases like this would result in a minimum 5 year jail term.

State Senator Fred Madden is a co-sponsor of the new measure.

"There's been many changes in the effective responses from the public safety or homeland security perspective, one of those being enhancement of using K-9's in the practice of public safety," Madden says.

The township has raised more than $90,000 in the wake of Schultz's death—enough to purchase and train two new police dogs. One of them is now on the street with his handler.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio