An Elkridge resident whose dog was shot and killed by a Howard County Police tactical team at his home in January testified March 24 before the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee in support of a bill that would authorize more state oversight of SWAT teams.

Mike Hasenei, 39, told committee members he and his family -- particularly his 12-year-old daughter -- were "traumatized" by the raid on Jan. 15.

"My daughter's grades have dropped tremendously," Hasenei said.

During the raid, in which officers were searching for stolen police weapons, the officers shot and killed Hasenei's Australian cattle dog. No weapons were found and no arrests were made.

The bill Hasenei testified in favor of would require police agencies to report data relating to such raids to the state Attorney General's Office.

The Senate version of the bill, which would require police agencies to report information on police raids to the governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, was unanimously approved by the Senate on March 19.

The House version is awaiting a Judiciary Committee vote before it moves on to the full House.

user comments (0)