Tragically a Crossville PD K9 Officer was killed early Wednesday morning after police chased down a stolen semi.  Here’s the press release from CPD

On Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at approximately 0500 hours, the City of Crossville Police Department assisted the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, who were attempting to stop a stolen semi-truck, which was traveling down a secluded dirt road off of Genesis Road. With City and County law enforcement in pursuit, the semi-truck wrecked in the woods and the suspect/driver fled on foot. 

K9-Lt. Bart Riden and Police K9 Cain gave chase. K9 Cain made contact with the suspect, identified as Dustin Dixon – 28 – Crossville, TN, hiding in the woods. K9 Cain was stabbed by the Dixon multiple times in the chest, with a knife.  K9 Cain returned injured to his handler, in serious condition, was rushed out for emergency medical treatment and was transported to U.T. Veterinary Medical Center for further treatment.  K9 Cain succumbed to his injuries and passed away shortly after arriving for treatment.

It is with saddened hearts that the City of Crossville Police Department announces the final End of Watch Call for a true hero and a three year law enforcement veteran. K9 Cain, your watch is over.

Good Boy!

So what happens now?  If the suspect is found guilty of killing the K9 Officer, what is the penalty.  Seems before 2015 in Tennessee the intentional killing of a police dog fell under theft.  That changed in 2015 when Governor Haslam signed Aron’s law.  It was named after a Metro canine officer who was killed during a bank robbery in 1998. K9 Aron was shot as he tried to position himself between the suspect and his handler, Metro Officer Terry Burnett.

Previously it was an offense to knowingly and unlawfully kill the animal of another without the owner’s effective consent. A violation is theft of property, graded according to the value of the animal, and punished accordingly.
Aron’s Law adds that a violation with respect to a police dog, fire dog, search and rescue dog, or police horse will be a Class E felony, unless the offense would be a higher classification based on the animal’s value, in which case the violation will be graded pursuant to present law.
Under present law, a Class E felony is punished by not less than one year imprisonment nor more than six years, and, in addition a fine of up to $3,000 may be assessed.

Of course Dixon has many more charges to face in addition to the killing of K9 Cain.