Connecticut has enacted a law to safeguard police K9s and punish those who harm them, according to an article on Fox61.

The law pays tribute to a state police K-9 killed on duty last year. K9 Broko was shot and killed during a search warrant operation in Pawcatuck in December 2023, the article reports.

Under Broko’s Law, anyone who hurts or kills an on-duty police dog will be charged with a Class D felony and must also pay a fine of up to $25,000. The money will directly support the training of these dogs by law enforcement agencies, according to the article.

“These dogs are very expensive. The training takes years,” State Sen. Heather Somers, (R-Groton) told the media outlet.

Somers sponsored the bill in memory of Broko to ensure punishment for those who harm or kill police K9s.

“Many towns are struggling with budgets. Things are very expensive. We have inflation and not every town can afford to have a K9, and when they do, when they're killed in the line of duty, we wanted to make sure that not only is the person accountable for the death, but that there is restitution,” she is reported as saying.

A fine of up to $25,000 will be returned to the law enforcement agencies that invested in these dogs, the article noted. The courts will also restitution of up to $10,000 beforehand.

“They have to be well trained and there's equipment that goes along with it,” Chief Louis Fusaro, with the Town of Groton Police Department, told the media outlet. “There's food, veterinary bills, a bunch of costs that are associated with having a K9 team... If the unfortunate situation were to occur where one of the K9s was injured or lost in the line of duty, taking advantage of those funds would be helpful to any department.”