Key Facts
- Dog's name
- Gizmo
- Breed
- Golden Retriever-Labrador mix
- Age
- Two years old
- Number in Illinois
- One of only four K-9s in Illinois
- Number in nation
- About 100 in the nation
- Training program
- Jordan Detection K-9 Electronic Storage Detection program in Indianapolis
Background
The Wilmette Police Department has gained an addition to its team — a dog named Gizmo who is one of only four K-9s in Illinois, and about 100 in the nation, trained to detect electronics in criminal investigations.
The two-year-old Golden Retriever-Labrador mix arrived at the department in June and is cross-trained as a comfort dog, to bring a sense of calm to people in stressful situations.
Sam Walker, a digital forensic analyst for the department and the dog’s handler, said his family has wanted a dog for a long time and Gizmo’s arrival ended up being perfect timing. “My kids wanted a dog and it worked out pretty well,” said Walker. “I do a lot of digital forensics, so it was just a natural fit.”
Current Situation
Originally, Gizmo was bred and raised to be a service dog and received service-dog obedience training. However, he failed the program because he pulled too hard on the leash, Walker said.
From there, Gizmo entered the Jordan Detection K-9 Electronic Storage Detection program in Indianapolis. The program trains canines in specialized scent detection for chemical compounds found in electronics.
After Gizmo completed the program, Walker had to complete a two-week handler certification course with him at the National Computer Forensic Institute in Alabama.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Training program | Jordan Detection K-9 Electronic Storage Detection program in Indianapolis |
| Handler certification | Two-week course at National Computer Forensic Institute in Alabama |
| Annual cost to village | Around $2,400 a year for food and care |
| Funding source | United States Secret Service covered all costs for dog, training, and travel |
Impacts
Walker added that the Labrador breed usually works well for this kind of detection because of their exceptional sense of smell. He said Gizmo is able to sniff out any electronics that store data — from laptops to USB flash drives and Micro SD cards.
The Jordan Detection agency’s website notes that electronics detection K-9s can help law enforcement investigators quickly recover evidence in child exploitation, terrorism and white-collar crime cases, among others. “Leveraging the acute olfactory abilities of the K9s, investigators can locate and recover electronic devices, even those damaged by fire or concealed within debris, leading to higher success rates in data recovery and analysis,” the Jordan website states.
Gizmo can locate electronics through his sense of smell in a fraction of the time it would take police officers to search for electronics in every corner of a home, Walker said. Wilmette Chief of Police Michael Robinson said Gizmo is responding to the smell of a specific type of chemical used in electronic adhesives. “He’s assisted a couple neighboring police agencies with investigations and has been successful in locating evidence for them,” Robinson said.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
The United States Secret Service covered all the costs for the dog and all the training and travel for Sam and Gizmo, Robinson noted. “The only costs to the village are the continued food and care for the dog, which is estimated to be around $2,400 a year,” he said.
Walker explained that in Gizmo’s other role as a comfort dog, he helps reduce anxiety and stress for police officers and members of the public, including victims, children and families in crisis. “The social work office is right next to mine,” he said. “If they have someone who’s coming in and they like dogs or are a little bit nervous about talking, I can bring Gizmo in and they will pet him, which relaxes them and lets them talk through whatever they’re dealing with.”
The K-9 will be present at different events throughout the year for people in the community to meet him. “He’s really coming into his own in terms of being a resource for the police officers and staff,” said Robinson. “People are already asking ‘Where’s Gizmo?’”
Source: chicagotribune.com
