A K9 specialized in detecting electronic storage devices is coming to the Arlington County Police Department through a unique partnership.
Board members on Sept. 19 authorized the county manager to accept the donation of a Labrador retriever from OUR Rescue, which has sponsored more than 150 placements worldwide.
The future police dog will assist the department “in identifying, detecting and recovering concealed electronic devices that may contain evidence of criminal activity,” police said after the vote.
The dogs are trained to detect substances that manufacturers spray on devices like memory cards, USB drives and cellphones to prevent overheating.
ACPD told ARLnow:
“Through advancements in technology, electronic storage is becoming capable of concealing larger volumes of illegal materials, such as child sexual exploitation materials, on smaller platforms, making it easier for suspects to hide these devices and creating challenges for law enforcement to locate valuable evidence. The specially trained K9 will be used during the execution of certain criminal search warrants and other lawful investigative activities to identify components within electronic devices and notify the handler of their location with the goal of securing evidence that supports the successful arrest, prosecution and conviction of the suspect for their criminal actions.”
OUR Rescue also trains handlers and their K9 partners to provide support for survivors of traumatic crimes, county officials said.
“Because of the demeanor of the K9, they are regularly utilized during interviews of juvenile or severely traumatized victims,” staff said in a memo to Board members.
The K9 also will be cross-trained as a support animal and integrated into the department’s wellness initiatives, police said.
OUR Rescue, a nonprofit founded in 2013, will provide financial support to the department through the entire working life of the dog. Costs covered range from annual recertification fees to an $80-per-month stipend for food. Routine veterinary care also is covered by the organization.
A specific dog for the department has not been identified. “ACPD continues to work with OUR Rescue and we anticipate announcing the new K9 following their selection and completion of training,” police told ARLnow.
OUR Rescue currently has five trained electronics canines working in Virginia, according to its website. More than 160 are in service worldwide.
Photo via Elianna Gill/Unsplash
