Don’t let his quizitive face fool you, Bear is capable of sniffing out the smallest of microSD cards even in burned down buildings. (all images via ElectronicDetectionk9)
These dogs are the elite of the elite - when it comes to rooting out electronic devices used to commit crimes no matter where they are hidden. They have been credited with helping to take down one of the America’s high profile, well-known criminals and others who are not as widely known. No, we’re not talking about the combat dogs used by elite soldiers to help fight terrorism but rather the few unsung four-legged friends who are trained to sniff out well-hidden electronics used to commit cybercrimes.
One of these elite pooches, who goes by the name Bear, was involved in the high-profile raid at the residence of former Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle last year in July. Specifically, the then two-year old Labrador Retriever was responsible for helping police find a hidden thumb drive that was a crucial piece of evidence against Fogle, which ultimately sent him to prison. Bear is one of only a handful of dogs in the US capable of detecting hidden electronic devices and with their incredible talent, law enforcement agencies in every major city are queuing-up to employ them.
Jordan Detection K9 recruit undergoing training in the simulated remains of a burned-down building.
Jordan Detection K9 trains Labradors like Bear under the direction of Fire Marshal and Jordan CEO Todd Jordan (formerly of Tactical Detection K-9) who has been training dogs to sniff-out arson causing accelerants and electronics since 1997. Todd and his trainers believe that Labradors in particular are well suited to the task of finding electronics due to their high energy and hunting characteristics, not to mention their ability to look adorable even in high-stress situations.
‘Who’s a good boy?’ SPD Detective Ian Polhemus with Bear, who’s now a part of Seattle’s ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force.
The dogs are trained to detect particular chemical compounds emitted from the electronic components such as PCBs or rather from those left behind during the manufacturing process such as chemical etching or chemical/gas deposition when creating microchip wafers. Those compounds retain a unique signature the dogs are able to ‘hit on’ no matter where they’re hidden, including the charred ashes of burned down structures. Like most elite K9s, these dog’s don’t come cheap and cost as much as a some used vehicles, ranging from $4,000 to $7,500 depending on the training, which can also include devices used in arson and various types warrant executions.
While that may seem like quite a feat for even the most highly trained dogs (and it is), it’s been reported that our furry friends are even capable of sniffing out cancerous cells. In a recent study (here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22012770) from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, researchers found that dogs were able to identify bladder cancer in young adults at an astounding 95% success rate!
Have a story tip? Message me at:
http://twitter.com/Cabe_Atwell