Meet K9 Buck, JCPD's nose for electronic storage devices

When it comes to sniffing out evidence in a crime, the Johnson City Police Department knows who to call to get the job done. His name is K9 Buck and he's the department's first electronic storage detection dog. Buck is a 2 ½-year-old English Labrador trained to detect electronic storage devices like cellphone SIM cards, hard drives, thumb drives and SD cards. Buck and his handler, JCPD Sgt. Tim Hensley, recently received certifications in indoor, outdoor and vehicle searches after completing a 150-hour training course at the National Computer Forensic Institute in Alabama. There are only around 200 K9s in the U.S. with Buck's detection capabilities. The dog works on Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and child exploitation investigations for JCPD's Special Victims Unit (SVU). In these cases, electronically-stored evidence is oftentimes crucial, according to Hensley. "So much of that is done electronically, whether it be images that are stored or the communications that take place," Hensley said. "So that's where [Buck] really shines, is being able to identify and locate those devices for investigators to continue their investigations." It's been estimated that dogs can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than humans, according to Veterinary Centers of America Animal Hospitals. Hensley said this enhanced sense allows K9s like Buck to find evidence officers might miss when searching a crime scene. "So often, people don't give criminals the credit they're due. They're smart just like the rest of us," Hensley said. "They're very creative in how they hide the things in a manner that, as humans, we can miss on these searches." Buck is trained to detect triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), a fire retardant found on electronic storage devices. He completes anywhere from three to 10 training exercises a day, according to Hensley. Training usually involves Buck sniffing out devices Hensley hides around different types of places — apartments, hotels, vehicles and underwater, to name a few — in exchange for treats. "We try to train at unique venues that are going to be applicable to us," Hensley said. Outside of his training and searches, K9 Buck makes a great friend too. "In my 10-hour day, I probably spend the better half of it working with him," Hensley said. "He's my best buddy. We go everywhere together and he does everything with me." K9 Buck rolls over and gets pets from Hensley. MADELYN SCHNEIDER/SIX RIVERS MEDIA In a city press release, JCPD Chief Eric Dougherty said his department has also added a full-time ICAC investigator to work within the SVU. "With the additions of K9 Buck and a full-time ICAC investigator within our Special Victims Unit, we continue to expand our abilities to thoroughly investigate these crimes and have the specialized expertise needed to investigate these complex cases effectively," Dougherty said. Buck not only serves with JCPD but is also available to the surrounding law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee, according to Hensley. He said he's currently working toward Buck being able to provide services in Southwest Virginia and North Carolina. In addition to electronic storage detection, Buck also has training in executive protection and can find hidden cameras or listening devices if needed, Hensley said.