Christie Puts Signature to 'Schultz's Law'

"Schultz's Law" is now the law.

Roughly six months after it was introduced, Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday gave final approval to the measure named after the beloved Gloucester Township Police K-9 killed in the line of duty in November while tracking a robbery suspect along Route 42.

The law strengthens the penalties for those found guilty of killing an on-duty police dog or any dog involved in a search-and-rescue mission.

Christie signed the bill the same day a Camden County grand jury indicted both the man accused of killing K-9 Schultz and his alleged co-conspirator in the Blackwood Chinese restaurant robbery that led to the K-9 unit-involved pursuit.

The new law took effect as soon as Christie put his signature to the bill (S-2541, A-3602) Tuesday. It increases the penalty for those found guilty of killing a police dog from three to five years in prison to a mandatory five-year sentence without the possibility of parole.

While Christie signed the bill on Tuesday, word that he'd granted the final necessary approval of the legislation did not make its way to legislators until Wednesday. It was only a matter of time then before Gloucester Township Police learned the governor had signed the bill named after K-9 Schultz.

"Obviously, we're very excited and thankful for the support from the legislators and our governor," Gloucester Township Police Chief W. Harry Earle said on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief David Harkins marveled at the attention the K-9 Schlutz case has received and continues to receive.

"In my experience, we haven't had a case with this much notoriety," he said. "I've never seen a case here get this much attention."

More than $70,000 had been raised to support the police department's efforts to erect a memorial in K-9 Schultz's honor and to revamp the K-9 unit, which welcomed two new dogs June 1.

The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Fred Madden (D-4) and in the Assembly by Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-4).

“Police dogs do not simply work alongside our police—they are part of our police,” Madden said. “They provide a tremendous service and perform a vital function in assisting and protecting our communities. Protecting these animals, who are in turn protecting us, is to be taken seriously.”

“Dogs that assist law enforcement are valuable allies in the fight against crime,” Moriarty said. “Schultz was doing nothing more than his job—serving and protecting the public. This law will ensure all K-9 officers have strong protections against those who break society’s rules.”

Joining the local state legislators as sponsors of "Schultz's Law" were Sen. Donald Norcorss (D-5) and Assemblymen Charles Mainor (D-31), Ruben Ramos Jr. (D-33) and Gilbert "Whip" Wilson (D-5).

The Senate passed the bill in February and the Assembly in May.