Proposed ‘Max’s Law’ will be sponsored again in Missouri Legislature

A state lawmaker representing St. Joseph in the Missouri legislature will try again to pass Max’s Law. 

The bill would increase the penalty for killing a police animal, such as a K9 cop, from a misdemeanor to a felony. 

State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville sponsored Max’s Law last year, which he says would extend protection beyond police dogs. . . “It’s really any working police animal, so if you had a horse–mounted police officer – and somebody shot and killed a horse in the line of duty, that too would be covered under Max’s Law. It’s not just limited the canines, although typically those are the animals that are unfortunately killed whenever they’re out on the streets helping our police officers.” 

Max’s Law was contained in an anti-crime measure vetoed by Governor Parson on an unrelated matter. 

It’s named in honor of K-9 Max, a St. Joseph police dog killed in the line of duty in June of 2021.