The Hibbing Police Department will soon get a new K-9 officer. Its job? To sniff out electronics.
The electronic-detecting Labrador retriever will work with officer Brittany Dillinger, who will attend training with the K-9 in late February through Jordan Detection K9 in Greenfield, Indiana, according to a news release from the police department.
Once the police department gets more information about its newest K-9, it will be asking for the public's help in naming the dog. The K-9 officer will be trained to detect the metallic odor that is on all electronic devices, even devices as small as a penny.
The detection dog will assist the department in cases involving child exploitation, sex trafficking, counterterrorism, white-collar crimes, homicide investigations, insider threats and drugs.
"The electronic detection K-9 is a Labrador retriever that is very well-mannered and may also be used by the handler in a therapy-type situation when dealing with a victim of a crime," the release said.
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Dillinger and her K-9 partner will also be able to assist other agencies in the region, if called upon.
The Hibbing Police Department is also home to K-9 Chase, who was crowned champion on the A&E television show "America's Top Dog" over the summer.
The expansion of the department's K-9 program is funded by grants from the nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad, as well as donations from the St. Louis County Attorney's Office, Walmart in Hibbing and the Dr. Ben Owens Family of Hibbing Foundation.
