Massachusetts Legislature passes Nero's Law, bill named after Yarmouth K-9 injured in shooting - WCVB Boston
BOSTON —
The Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate passed a bill on Monday that ensures law enforcement officers' K-9 partners receive life-saving medical attention and transport if they are injured in the line of duty.
The bill, known as Nero's Law, was drafted in response to the shooting that claimed the life of Yarmouth Police K-9 Sgt. Sean Gannon, a New Bedford native, and severely injured his K-9 partner, Nero.
Nero's law authorizes emergency medical service personnel to provide emergency treatment and transport of K-9 partners, including basic first aid, CPR and administering life-saving interventions such as naloxone.
The legislation, "An Act allowing humane transportation of K-9 partners," was first proposed by State Sen. Mark Montigny and is now approved by both houses of the Massachusetts Legislature.
“Providing emergency medical services to police dogs injured in the line of duty is both compassionate and appropriate, especially in light of what we're asking them to do,” Senate President Karen Spilka said in a statement. “Service dogs play a necessary role in effective law enforcement operations, and they deserve our support.”
“K-9 police dogs provide several indispensable services to the Massachusetts police force and the Commonwealth as a whole. Given the sometimes dangerous jobs that police dogs are asked to undertake, providing them with any necessary emergency medical care is our moral responsibility,” House Speaker Ron Mariano said in a statement.
Gannon, 32, was shot and killed while serving a warrant in the town of Barnstable in April 2018. Despite the multiple ambulances on site, Nero had to be rushed to the animal hospital in the back of a police cruiser with a gunshot wound to the side of his face. The bullet was also believed to be lodged in the K-9's shoulder.
Current Massachusetts law prohibits emergency medical personnel from treating and transporting animals. Nero, fortunately, survived his injuries, but state senators said the inability to transport the K-9 showed that reform was needed to honor working dogs who risk their lives every day to serve the commonwealth.
Nero's Law now advances to the desk of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker for consideration to be signed into law.
The man convicted of Gannon's murder and injuring Nero, Thomas Latanowich, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in connection with the shooting on Aug. 20.
source: https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-legislature-passes-nero-s-law-february-7-2022/39005947
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