The Pinellas Park Police Department is embracing innovative approaches to crime-fighting with its new K9 officer Jesse, a yellow labrador with the ability to trace the smallest of electronic devices that may be used in criminal acts. Jesse's specific training as an Electronic Storage Tracking K9 enables him to detect electronics ranging from large computers to minuscule micro-SD cards, potentially revolutionizing how law enforcement operates in the digital realm. "Jesse is really doing God's work, he is finding the devices that the humans don't," Chief Adam Geissenberger told WFLA, emphasizing the dog's utility in unearthing items adeptly hidden in unusual places like walls or door frames.
Not only is Jesse a trailblazer in electronic detection, but he serves a dual role as a therapy dog to the department, victims, and the wider community, this multifaceted support system places emphasis on both the mental well-being of those affected by crimes and the steadfast commitment to justice through technological means. "This Electronic Storage Detection K9 is another tool in the toolbox for Pinellas Park Police to prevent crimes against our most vulnerable," Geissenberger stated in a statement obtained by WFLA.
Jesse's unique capabilities come as a part of a growing trend of utilizing specially trained dogs to aid law enforcement in various investigative scenarios, particularly in the sphere of internet crimes against children. Alongside Detective Brian Schibler, Jesse's handler, the K9 is associated with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, putting to work his keen sense to spot devices that evade even the most thorough of manual searches. "He's trained to hit on a chemical compound on anything that transmits or stores data," Schibler revealed in a FOX 13 News interview.
The acquisition of Jesse was courtesy of Defenders For Children, an organization that secures community donations to train dogs specifically for roles in law enforcement. "These dogs need to be everywhere, in every agency involving any crime against women and children," Executive Director Toni Clark told WFLA, underscoring their potential impact across jurisdictions. In practical use, Jesse has already proven effective, assisting in cases where he's found two to three devices that were overlooked by law enforcement, according to reports.
The K9's impact was recently felt as Jesse helped unearth concealed electronic items in an assistance call with local agencies, including Largo, where his skills uncovered devices invisible to detectives searching the scene. "This is not a probable cause dog, this is a dog that goes in and says: my human friends, you don’t know what you don’t know, let me show you what you missed," Geissenberger said on WFLA, illustrating the added value Jesse brings to the investigative process.
