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Proposed legislation in Kansas fights for more justice for K-9 officers injured or killed on the job

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2 years ago

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Proposed legislation in Kansas fights for more justice for K-9 officers injured or killed on the job


OLATHE, Kan. (KCTV) – Proposed legislation in Kansas aims to create stiffer punishments for people who injure or kill K9 officers. It’s called Bane’s Law and is named after a Sedgwick County K9 killed in the line of duty in November of 2023.

KCTV met up with K9 Units of the Olathe and Kansas City, KS Police Department and both of them have noticed when a police dog is called to a scene it usually stops things from escalating to the point of someone being killed because suspects surrender more often. But with all the service comes a risk to the K9s and they say, more protection is needed under the law.

First, meet Kodi of the Olathe Police Department. For two years he’s served with Officer Kyle Clausius. “The dogs are working with us day in and day out and they go home with us to be a part of our family life as well,” Officer Clausius said. 

Thanks to Kodi and the other K-9s on the force in Olathe, Clausius believes the city is much safer when they’re on the job because they can respond in ways human officers can’t.  

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“If a violent subject who’s on the run hiding in a business or residence,” Officer Clausius explained, “that’s when the critical patrol side of that dog in detecting that bad guy for officer safety tells us where he’s at before an officer is in harm’s way. They are really the tip of the spear for the search.” 

READ MORE: Man charged in death of KCPD officer, K-9 and pedestrian pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter

Right now in the state of Kansas, anyone who harms or kills a police dog faces 30 days to a year in prison with a maximum fine of $5,000. Bane’s law would triple the prison time to a 90-day minimum sentence to prison and increase the fine to at least $10,000. 

Because of all K9s do to protect people, KCK Police Officer Jeff Gardner feels they deserve better justice. 

“Even when an officer goes before anyone else to try and help somebody those dogs will do the same thing for us,” Gardner said. “To go around that corner or go in that room first and risk their lives at the drop of a hat by just asking them to.”  

Bane’s Law is named after a K9 from Wichita who was strangled while trying to capture a suspect. If passed it would also allow police to seek restitution to replace any police dog injured or killed so the department doesn’t face setbacks in services they provide from a vital part of their department.  

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“To get a K9 and starting the process of getting it, training it, getting the handler certified, getting the K9 certified you’re talking about $15,000,” Capt. Joshua Messick of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department told KCTV. “That’s a lot of money and getting the equipment to go along with it.”

Both Kansas and Missouri saw one police dog die in the line of duty in 2023. Recently, the Missouri House of Representatives also showed approval for a bill that would increase the maximum prison time from four to seven years for anyone guilty of injuring or killing police dogs or horses.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.



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Kansas

Former Kansas high school wrestling coach charged with producing child pornography

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19 hours ago

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March 5, 2026

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Former Kansas high school wrestling coach charged with producing child pornography


WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A former Kansas wrestling coach was charged with creating child sexual abuse materials by secretly recording minors showering during an athletic competition.

According to court documents, 37-year-old Ryan Brungardt of Salina is charged with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.

Brungardt is a former employee at Lakewood Middle School and former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School.

Brungardt is accused of using a cellphone to record three minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament was held at Newton High in January 2024.

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Brungardt made his initial court appearance for the criminal complaint on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks G. Severson.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday

Investigators are in the process of reviewing additional seized cellphone videos in this case that are suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina during the 2023-2024 wrestling season.

Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or any suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Saturday after Wednesday sub-state wins

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1 day ago

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March 5, 2026

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Saturday after Wednesday sub-state wins


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Wednesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

6A Boys West Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

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  • Topeka High 57, Washburn Rural 50 (will play Maize Saturday)
  • Junction City 70, Dodge City 56 (will play Derby Saturday)
  • Manhattan 58, Wichita-Northwest 56 (will play Wichita-East Saturday)

4A Boys East Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rock Creek 62, Louisberg 57 (will play Bishop Miege Saturday)
  • Atchison 74, Wamego 43
  • Hayden 72, Independence 56 (will play Atchison Saturday)
  • Eudora 76, Santa Fe Trail 68

GIRLS

5A West Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Hays 80, Topeka West 18
  • Eisenhower 55, Seaman 41
  • Kapaun Mt. Carmel 71, Emporia 41

5A East Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Shawnee Heights 89, Sumner 15 (will play Pittsburg Saturday)
  • Basehor-Linwood 74, Highland Park 28 (will play Piper Saturday)

3A Pomona-West Franklin Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Osage City 75, Columbus 31 (will play Frontenac Saturday)

3A Sabetha Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Silver Lake 48, Nemaha Central 26 (will play Riley County Saturday)
  • Riley County 51, Jeff West 40 (will play Silver Lake)

Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.



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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins

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2 days ago

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March 4, 2026

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Tuesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

5A East Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

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  • KC Washington 68, Highland Park 38
  • Shawnee Heights 49, De Soto 37 (will play Leavenworth Friday)

5A West Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Topeka West 55, Hutchinson 32 (will play Bishop Carroll Friday)
  • Emporia 61, Great Bend 41 (will play Maize South Friday)
  • Seaman 73, Valley Center 51 (will play Hays Friday)

3A West Franklin Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Burlington 60, Osage City 35 (will play Baxter Springs Friday)

3A Sabetha Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Hiawatha 73, Oskaloosa 48 (will play Heritage Christian Friday)
  • Silver Lake 58, Sabetha 39 (will play Perry-Lecompton Friday 7:30 p.m.)

GIRLS

6A West Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Washburn Rural 60, Wichita South 32 (will play Derby)
  • Topeka High 69, Maize 45 (will play Liberal)
  • Manhattan 67, Free State 21 (will play Wichita East)

4A East Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rock Creek 71, Parsons 23 (will play Tonganoxie)
  • Wamego 54, Labette County 33 (will play Bishop Miege)
  • Hayden 2, Athison 0 (will play Baldwin)

2A Eskridge/Mission Valley Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rossville 71, KC Christian 49 (will play Maur Hill-Mount Academy)
  • Lyndon 61, Jeff. Co. North 31 (will play Valley Heights)
  • Valley Heights 65, Doniphan West 41 (will play Lyndon)

Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.



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