About Us
At ESD K9, we bring more than 40 years of combined investigative and digital forensics experience. Our backgrounds include leading specialized investigative units, working alongside federal partners, and providing expert insight on cases involving computers, mobile devices, and emerging digital threats.
The idea for ESD K9 grew out of that collective experience. As technology became smaller and easier to conceal, we saw firsthand how traditional searches often failed to detect hidden devices. To bridge that gap, we combined our investigative expertise with proven detection science and the unmatched abilities of working dogs. ESD K9s are specially trained to locate the unique scents of electronic components, uncovering evidence and threats that would otherwise remain hidden.
Today, we provide this capability to schools, corporations, government agencies, and private clients, delivering trusted, discreet, and precise protection where technology and safety intersect.
The History of ESD K9’s
Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s are a recent but powerful innovation in investigative work. The first dogs were trained in 2012 to detect the unique chemical compounds found in devices like USBs, SD cards, and hard drives. Early successes quickly proved their value, with the Connecticut State Police’s Selma and Seattle PD’s Bear leading the way.
Bear’s role in the 2015 investigation of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle brought national attention to the program after he uncovered a hidden thumb drive critical to the case.
Today, ESD K9s are deployed by federal, state, and local agencies to locate hidden electronics in cases ranging from child exploitation and human trafficking to fraud and counterintelligence. What began as a single dog experiment is now a proven investigative discipline helping teams uncover evidence that would otherwise remain hidden.
