Weber County police dog ‘URL’ sniffs out child porn, other hidden data
URL, a 17-month-old black lab, is an electronic detection K-9, capable of finding hidden electronic storage devices.
URL, a 17-month-old black lab, is an electronic detection K-9, capable of finding hidden electronic storage devices.
URL, a 17-month-old black lab, is an electronic detection K-9, capable of finding hidden electronic storage devices.
URL, a 17-month-old black lab, is an electronic detection K-9, capable of finding hidden electronic storage devices.
URL, a 17-month-old black lab, is an electronic detection K-9, capable of finding hidden electronic storage devices.
OGDEN — The Weber County Sheriff's newest deputy has a unique set of skills that sets him apart from the rest.
Meet URL, (pronounced like Earl), the Sheriff’s Office’s new K-9 that was brought on board in May to sniff out electronic storage devices for purposes of finding child pornography and other electronic evidence.
The 17-month-old black lab is an electronic detection dog and is Utah’s first. He has the ability to sniff out electronic storage devices like cell phones, hard drives and SIM cards, said Weber County Detective Cameron Hartman, URL’s handler.
“Basically, anything that can digitally store data, he can find it,” Hartman said.
URL is one of a handful of electronic detection dogs in the country, one of which was instrumental in finding evidence to indict former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle for sexual exploitation, Weber County Lt. Lane Findlay said.
As a member of the Utah Attorney General’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force, Hartman said URL makes for a perfect partner when investigating child pornography cases.
Although URL has an impressive talent, he started from humble beginnings. He is a rescue puppy that was returned by two different families and living in a shelter before he was picked out by Jordan Detection K-9 in Greenfield, Indiana. After nine months of training, he was ready for duty, he said.
Last year, Hartman saw a demo of the dogs’ capabilities and thought it would benefit not only Weber County but all of Utah if they could acquire a dog, he said. Utah is ranked in the top 10 states for child pornography cases.
“I thought this would be a great tool to combat that,” Hartman said.
URL is able to sniff out electronic storage devices because he is trained to use his sensitive nose to zero-in on a common chemical used in such devices, Hartman said. Since our society is filled with electronic devices, URL is trained to know that only when his harness is on is when it’s time to work. When he’s let loose to search, he’ll lay down with his nose pointed to the hidden object, then paw at it.
Like all K-9 officers, URL goes home with his handler and plays the role of the family dog, although Hartman says there have been some jealousy issues between the new dog and the old. He’s friendly, sociable and loves to play, he said. His social side comes in handy when searching homes with small children, which he allows to pet him to ease the tension.
URL cost $10,000 and was purchased by the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, which he’ll likely aid when they serve search warrants. As only one of nine of his kind in the country, he could be asked to assist on cases for other departments, including out-of-state and federal agencies, so Hartman says he wouldn’t be surprised if they do some traveling.
Contact reporter Andreas Rivera at 801-625-4227 or arivera@standard.net. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter at @SE_Andreas.