Kentucky K9 officer will sniff out evidence in child exploitation cases
Republished from Kentucky Lantern
Kentucky’s Attorney General’s office is getting a pawfect new officer who will work in the Department of Criminal Investigations sniffing out technology in child exploitation cases.
Charity, a yellow lab K9 officer, is trained to detect cell phones, flash drives, micro-SD cards and other technology that the AG’s office said “could contain child sex abuse material.”
According to the American Kennel Club, technology like cell phones and hard drives do have a chemical odor that trained dogs can smell. Because of that, some dogs can help sniff out hidden devices in child pornography cases. Charity can detect this odor, triphenylphosphine oxide (or TPPO).
This news comes as Kentucky just criminalized the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create deep-fake child porn. The state also just made it a Class D felony to knowingly own or sell a child sex doll — defined as a doll, mannequin or robot that is intended for sexual stimulation or gratification and that has the features of, or has features that resemble those of, a minor.
“Law enforcement needs to stay on the cutting edge of keeping kids safe from exploitation,” Jeremy Murrell, Deputy Commissioner for Counter Exploitation in DCI, said in a statement. “Highly trained K9s like Charity are invaluable in an investigation and will help get predators off our streets and behind bars.”
AG Russell Coleman called Charity “elite” and a “force multiplier.”
Detective Shelby Guffey, Charity’s handler, said in a statement that “She’s so talented and hardworking. She’s going to make a big difference in our Commonwealth.”
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