Specially Trained K-9 Helps Task Force Fight Child Abuse Images

LONDONDERRY, NH — A special event to raise awareness of NH Internet Crimes Against Children (NH-ICAC). The event was held at Pipe Dreams Brewery on Tuesday and helped raise funds for Hillsborough County Child Advocacy Centers.

Hillsborough County Deputy Sherriff Matt Fleming demonstrated one of the tools that the task forces use in their execution of search warrants at the locations of alleged sexual predators. K-9 "Niko" a specially trained electronic storage detection (ESD) is an asset that was added to the task force 21 months ago.

ALSO READ:

• Concord Man Arrested On Rape, 50 Counts Child Sexual Abuse Images
• On Safer Internet Day, Nashua Police, Others Announce 12 Arrests

Niko is used to search for electronic storage devices that can include hard drives, SD cards, hidden cameras with storage devices, and cell phones. In the time that Niko has served on the task force, he has been deployed 135 times to execute search warrants and assist in child rescue operations. In one incident he located a laptop that contained 21,000 child abuse images.

Niko can search in areas where there are several different types of electronic devices but is trained to only detect the items with storage capabilities. Deputy Fleming explained that electronic storage devices are treated with a chemical to prevent them from overheating when data is being written or retrieved from the devices. The specific chemicals are the items Niko has been trained to detect.

In a demonstration in an industrial storage area, Niko searched boxes that contained several electronic items, however only signaled when he found electronic storage devices. Niko sits when he finds the item and when the handler is ready he pushes his nose toward the item.

Niko is one of 66 ESD K-9s in the United States and was trained in Indiana by Jordan Detection, a company specializing in training ESD K9s. Fleming said Niko is considered one of the top k9s in the country.

Niko is trained as a food reward dog and is hand-fed when he is working and searching. Niko lives with Fleming and when he is not executing search warrants, Fleming must work with him so that he can be properly fed.

Fleming is part of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department but Niko serves the entire state of New Hampshire and is funded by NH- ICAC.

The New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (NH ICAC) Task Force was established in 1998. Crimes that are investigated include child prostitution, online solicitation of minors, and the possession, manufacturing, and distribution of child sexual abuse images.

This program enables law enforcement agencies to work together to acquire the technical skills, specialized equipment, and resources to effectively investigate and prosecute offenders. The NH ICAC Task Force is a multiagency, multi-jurisdictional organization that has developed responses to prevent, interdict, investigate and prosecute internet crimes against children.

The Task Force works in partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, United States Attorney's Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, U. S. Secret Service (USSS), U. S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
Several tips on how to keep children safe and provide tips can be found on the NH ICAC FaceBook Click

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news