September 23, 2015
Canine encounter training mandated for Texas law enforcement
On May 18, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed H.B. 593, mandating that Texas law enforcement officers take canine encounter training prior to the second anniversary of employment. The law took effect on Sept. 1 and applies to new hire law enforcement personnel only. The law was passed in the wake of, and as a response to, a number of incidents in Texas in which dogs were killed by police officers in the line of duty.