“Special K-9 Joins ‘Golden State Killer’ Prosecutor to Combat Cybercrimes with Innovative Digital Strategy”

A special electronic detection K-9 is helping a central California district attorney’s office crack down on a rise in cybercrimes.

Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward recently discussed with Fox News Digital the essential role that the office’s latest crime-fighting canine will play in addressing the increasing number of cybercrimes.

Ward admitted, “I was skeptical when my chief investigator approached me with the idea. I wasn’t sure if she was serious. A dog that can detect electronics? It sounded unbelievable at first. But the whole experience has been enlightening.”

He mentioned that his office was selected as one of the 12 nationwide to receive an electronic detection dog as part of the U.S. Secret Service’s National Forensic Institute program.

Ward said authorities have seen an “increased number of fraud, embezzlement and complex white-collar crime cases happening,” and that they are seeing both crime types “merging in the area in the use of electronics and storage devices.”

“I’ll say argumentatively, the criminality of hiding the evidence, whether they be the images of child porn, horrible things, or if they are deception and hiding financial records and following the money. What we’re excited about is that Tor is able to assist law enforcement in whatever the original crime type is,” Ward said. 

Ward has served as Tulare County district attorney since 2012 and has developed a Crimes Against Children Unit and a Human Trafficking Task Force and has brought the first Courthouse Comfort dog to Tulare County.

Ward said the need for police K-9s like Tor is essential as crime is evolving, sharing a past example.

Authorities in Tulare County, Calif., are cracking down on cybercrime. (Getty Images)

“Several years ago, I had the privilege of being part of the prosecution of the Visalia Ransacker case, who turned out to be the ‘Golden State Killer,'” he said. “And I said in the sentencing of that defendant that, at the time, we were seeing, as science and technology grew, and it expanded, what it’s going to do is shrink the space that criminals are able to operate in.

“And I think that’s the message here. For anyone that would think that they are smarter than this dog’s nose, you will not get away with it. If he’s in the area, he can detect it.” 

Ward said he hopes that victims knowing Tor is out there will give them and their families hope and a sense of protection.

“We’re lucky and fortunate that the U.S. Secret Service chose us to be a part of this. And we’re going to be good stewards. And we’re going to do everything we can to put him (Tor) to good use,” Ward said. 

“Having a tool like Tor will tremendously aid law enforcement in finding hidden items like this. Finding this one item could make or break a case,” Benitez added. 

Ward said despite “so much going on in California right now,” his office is sending a clear message.

“There’s so many voices and things coming out of Sacramento. Who’s the voice that’s left out of all of that conversation? It’s the victims’ voices and the families of victims. And our heart certainly goes out to any family who has a child impacted by crime,” Ward said.

With the use of Tor, Ward is confident they will be able to protect more people.

“We can send a message to those families that don’t have a voice coming out of Sacramento right now that someone does, in fact, care about victims. And we’re going to do everything we can to hold those criminals accountable,” he said.