HARTFORD, Conn. — A new law in Connecticut took effect Oct. 1 in honor of a state police k-9 killed in the line of duty last year.
K-9 Broko was fatally shot while officers were serving a search warrant in Pawcatuck in December 2023.
His death rocked the law enforcement community and raised questions about how police departments are made whole after these sudden losses.
Under Broko’s Law, anyone who hurts or kills an on-duty police dog will not only be charged with a Class D felony, they must also pay a fine of up to $25,000.
That money will go directly to the law enforcement agencies that train the dogs and build a bond beneath the badge.
“The drive they have to protect the handler is unbelievable,” Officer Mike Zmayefski said. “They will put their life down before ours.”
Zmayefski knows the bond between a handler and his k-9 partner firsthand.
“[Murphy] is very loyal. He’s my best friend. We’ve been on many calls, and he always has my back,” he said.
Zmayefski and K-9 Murphy of the Killingly Police Department have worked and lived side by side for close to a decade, so when news broke of a state police K-9 shot and killed on the job in Pawcatuck last year, it cut deep.
“It was horrible,” Zmayefski said. “It was a horrible chain of events that day.”
But now, less than one year after police K-9 Broko’s end of watch, a new Connecticut law lets his legacy live on.
“These dogs are very expensive. The training takes years,” State Sen. Heather Somers, (R-Groton), said.
Somers sponsored the bill in Broko’s memory, making sure anyone convicted of hurting or killing a police K-9 pays the price.
“Many towns are struggling with budgets, things are very expensive. We have inflation and not every town can afford to have a canine, 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 said.
A fine of up to $25,000 will go directly back to the law enforcement agencies that invest their hearts and money into these dogs. Prior to this, restitution of up to $10,000 would be sent to the courts.
“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. “There's food, veterinary bills, a whole bunch of costs that are associated with having a canine team... If the unfortunate situation were to occur where one of the canines was injured or lost in the line of duty, taking advantage of those funds would be helpful to any department.”
The money aims to help departments move forward, without an essential part of their team.
“They're on every shift. They're going to all the hot calls and, you know, they have stab vests and ballistic vests for a reason. They’re out there on the front lines just like the officers,” Heather McClelland, Groton Community policing officer, said.
Handlers say losing a K-9 is like losing a piece of home.
“Chase is with me more than I’m with my own family,” she said.
The bill, that passed the Connecticut state legislature with unanimous support, is widely seen as a symbol of recognition that service and sacrifice come in many forms, including from those with four paws.
“It's amazing what those animals will do for their handler, for their friend, for their partner," Fusaro said. “Many of them sacrifice themselves for the officers they serve with, and in many cases, they do tremendous service for our communities and they do great work and put themselves in the line of fire from time to time.”
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Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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