JAMESTOWN – City Police Officer Eric Kraft says that he’s disappointed that a law that would make assault on canine officers a felony has stalled in passage
State Sen. Cathy Young is trying to change that by introducing “Mitchell’s Law,” which would make it a felony to injure a K-9 officer in the line of duty.
Kraft’s partner, K9 Mitchell of the Jamestown Police Department, was stabbed and wounded during an apprehension last year of a man wanted for murder.
The six-year-old German Shepherd was treated for his injuries and returned to work shortly after the incident.
“It if wasn’t for these working dogs that put themselves in danger every night, me and other officers might not be going home at night,” said Kraft. “That’s why I think this is so important that this moves forward.”
Kraft says K9 Mitchell has been the catalyst for more than 60 apprehensions or locations since his career started here more than five years ago.