“The town of Yarmouth suffered an incredible tragedy in April of 2018 when Sergeant Sean Gannon was killed in the line of duty. Also injured in this vicious attack was Gannon’s canine partner, Nero. Nero suffered life-threatening injuries and was unable to be rescued due to existing state law that prohibits working animals from being treated or transported by emergency personnel. Instead, Nero had to wait nearly four hours before a retired K9 police officer could arrive on scene to retrieve Nero and help with his injuries before he was driven to the emergency veterinary hospital.”

Nero’s Law has passed! Very proud to share the great news that today the @MA_Senate voted unanimously to pass Nero’s Law. The legislation has been years in the making & will allow emergency medical personnel to treat and transport working animals when injured in the line of duty. pic.twitter.com/BKNVRnGCS5

— Patrick O’Connor (@PatrickMOConnor) November 10, 2021

Despite the long delay, Nero survived his injuries. His handler, Sergeant Sean Gannon was also shot while serving the arrest warrant. Tragically, Gannon would not survive.

What does Nero’s Law allow for?

This new legislation will permit the following:

• Allow emergency personnel to treat injured operational working animals.

• Allow emergency personnel to transport injured operational working animals.

• Require any emergency personnel that would render care to an operational working animal to have completed training consistent with standards approved by the Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Senator Steven Xiarhos tells our @AnaBottary he left his career in law enforcement after 40 years and ran for office to get Nero’s Law passed:https://t.co/zEaBkG8aAB @X4Barnstable5th @yarmouthpolice

— Spectrum News 1 Worcester (@SpecNews1Worc) November 15, 2021

Passing of Nero’s Law was personal for Senator Xiarhos.

One senator who helped pass Nero’s law was there the day Nero was injured. At the time of the tragic incident, Senator Steve Xiarhos was the Deputy Chief of the Yarmouth Police Department. He spoke to the media about the impact that day had on him.

Nero’s Law would ensure that K-9 law enforcement partners receive life-saving medical attention/transport if injured in the line of duty. The bill is in response to the tragic death of Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon & his injured K-9 partner, Nero.

2/2https://t.co/ut3V6Keir3

— Senator John Velis (@SenJohnVelis) November 16, 2021

“Standing there seeing Nero being carried out of the house, trying to breathe and covered in blood and no one helping him, I’ll never forget that,” Xiarhos said. “It’s personal to the 7,000 police officers that serve the state and their 250 dogs. What this does is gives the police dog a chance to live.”

Great news for MA K9 officers! Nero’s Law was passed by the MA Senate! We thank @KarenSpilka, @SenRodrigues, and @WalterFTimilty for their leadership and Senator Mark Montigny for sponsoring this legislation. #mapoli pic.twitter.com/LfWAH5FFDC

— MSPCA Advocacy (@MSPCAAdvocacy) November 10, 2021

A good day for K9 Officers and their handlers.

Thanks to Xiarhos and all the others who voted in favor of the bill, police dogs will now have a greater chance of surviving injuries suffered in the line of duty. Hopefully, more states will develop similar legislation as well.

“We thank Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Senator Michael Rodrigues, and Senator Walter F. Timilty for their leadership and Senator Mark Montigny for sponsoring this legislation. The bill now moves to the MA House of Representatives where it is sponsored by State Representative Steve Xiarhos.”

Learn more about the passing of Nero’s Law in the video below.

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Source: CBS Boston/MSBCA