KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has added a new K-9 to its crimefighting tools, one that is specially trained to find electronic devices that could contain critical evidence.
Marvel, the 17-month-old black Labrador Retriever, is the agency’s newest Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K-9. The dog is trained to detect a chemical compound found in devices like hard drives, flash drives, and micro-SD cards less than a millimeter thick.
The TBI said in a release that ESD K-9’s can be vital in certain investigations, especially child exploitation cases, as they can identify devices that may be hidden or discarded in water or the garbage.
Marvel will assist on cases across Tennessee with a primary focus on those involving Internet Crimes Against Children. He replaces the agency’s first-ever ESD K-9, Zeus, who retired earlier this year.
Zoo Knoxville chimpanzee undergoes possible first-of-its-kind spinal surgery
When he is not sniffing out evidence, Marvel will serve as a comfort companion to both law enforcement officers and the public. He will help with stress diffusion and can also be showcased to schools or civic groups…