Most people are familiar with drug and bomb detection canines, but a new pup on the block is helping to sniff out crimes committed on electronic devices.

Doug, just over 2 years old, is an electronic storage detection canine assigned to the Lycoming County District Attorney’s office, said handler Calvin Irvin, a detective in the District Attorney’s Office assigned to their digital forensic unit, said.

Donated by Our Rescue and trained at Jordan Detection K-9 in Indiana, Doug is able to find a number of electronic devices, including cell phones, SIM cards, micro SD cards, air tags and even hidden cameras, by sniffing out a chemical called triphenylphosphine oxide or TPPO, commonly used in such devices.

“He can locate devices in rooms, vehicles and water up to a depth of about three feet,” said Irvin, who is also assigned to the FBI task force for violent crimes against children.

“His main focus will be ICAC cases, which is Internet Crimes Against Children, people who do bad things and send the images on the internet,” he explained.

Doug is food rewarded, meaning he eats only when he works, as a way to reinforce his training.

While helping out neighboring law enforcement agencies, Irvin got to witness the effectiveness of such training first hand.

“There was a detective at the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office in their ICAC unit, and he had a canine, Spike and we would go out and assist with search warrants, so bring Spike. Seeing them work, it’s impressive, because the longer they work, the better they get, the more fine tuned they are,” he said.

After being contacted by Our Rescue about an opportunity to add an electronic detection canine to the ranks in Lycoming County, Irvin reached out to District Attorney Tom Marino and Chief County Detective Thomas Ungard, who were immediately on board.

“It’s another fantastic way of helping solve crimes, given the fact that I’ve seen this happen with these dogs a couple of times, and it’s just remarkable,” Marino said.

“Those dogs can find information that’s loaded on a little stick that’s hidden in a receptacle box. They pick it right out, and it’s just another great tool that we have now to use,” he said.

“I saw the several things that we did in this office, and when the experts came in and showed me some video as to what was going on, you know, this is neat stuff,” Marino said.

“Doug’s a beautiful dog, too. Whenever he sees me, boy, he’s right over because he likes the top of his head and his neck rubbed,” Marino added.

Doug is also dual certified as a therapy dog, Irvin said.

“So if we have victims that have a C Sam warrant, and there’s live children victims, he can comfort them. He can also attend CAC interviews and be in there with the kid from the incident, all the way down to where they’re talked to by the forensic interviewer,” he said.

All of the cost for Doug, including his training, vet bills, toys, training devices and food are covered by Our Rescue, meaning he is of no cost to the county.

When not working or training, Doug is just another member of the family, Irvin said.

Making an appearance as part of this year’s Lycoming County Camp Cadet, Doug has been a star among the cadets.

“It is nice to tell the cadets, because they’re not allowed to have cell phones or any type of electronics this week that, oh, yeah, he will find it,” joked state trooper and camp director Lauren Lesher.

So beloved is Doug, that he has his very own Facebook page.