A recent federal law designed to protect police dogs has resulted in the conviction of a suspect who attacked VicPD K9 PSD Uno in 2016.
In July 2016, Uno was assisting his fellow officers in the capture of a suspect who had baggies of cocaine and heroin, and had fled from police while being apprehended.
Along with other VicPD officers (both human and K9), Uno followed the suspect to a hotel in the 400-block of Quebec Street. While they were approaching his room, they were ambushed by the suspect and his companion in the hallway.
The two began to fight the officers, and when PSD Uno was released to assist, they struck him in the head and face multiple times.
The officers were able to take the two individuals into custody after the struggle, and Uno had to take some time off to recover from his injuries.
Quanto’s Law to the rescue
On October 26th 2018, the suspect was convicted for charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, dangerous driving, obstruction of a police officer and the assaults on PSD Uno.
The last conviction for the assault on Uno is a first for Greater Victoria, and was made possible thanks to the Justice for Animals in Service Act, or “Quanto’s Law”, which makes it a criminal offence to cause harm, suffering, or death to law enforcement, military, and service animals.
The law was inspired by Edmonton Police Service dog, Quanto, who was killed on the job in 2013 after four years of service and over 100 arrests to his name.
“Quanto’s law helps protect our K9 partners, who so often put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public and us, their human partners,” VicPD K9 A/Sgt. Calvin Ewer said.
“This conviction shows that harming a K9 has serious consequences.”
