Texas Senate Bill SR605

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Recognizing March 26, 2015, as K9s4COPS Day.

Impact

The resolution acknowledges the effectiveness of K9 units in law enforcement, stating that the dogs have helped capture hundreds of criminals and have intercepted more than $70 million in illegal contraband including firearms, explosives, narcotics, and cash. By facilitating the funding and provision of K9 units to police departments, K9s4COPS enhances public safety and strengthens the operational capacities of local law enforcement agencies. This is particularly critical given the limited budgets that many police departments face.

Summary

Senate Resolution No. 605 recognizes March 26, 2015, as K9s4COPS Day in the State of Texas, celebrating the contributions of the K9s4COPS organization. Founded in 2010 by Kristi Hoss Schiller, K9s4COPS has significantly supported Texas law enforcement agencies by donating trained police dogs. These trained dogs, which can cost as much as $15,000 each, have been pivotal in assisting police departments that operate under tight budgetary constraints. Since its inception, K9s4COPS has provided over 100 trained dogs to various law enforcement agencies across Texas.

Contention

Although the resolution primarily serves to honor K9s4COPS and its achievements, there may be underlying discussions regarding the need for further funding and support for law enforcement agencies, particularly in regions with significant resource limitations. Such resolutions often generate dialogue on how best to allocate state resources for public safety initiatives, which may lead to debates about prioritizing funding for law enforcement versus other community services.