YAKIMA — A new dog on the job at the Yakima Police Department has already shown how he can help stalking victims — and possibly even save their lives.
Router, a 11/2 -year-old Labrador retriever, was trained as an electronic storage detection K9. He can sniff out electronic devices and assists on search warrants to locate hard drives, cell phones, Secure Digital cards and thumb drives.
He can also locate AirTags and other electronic tracking devices that some use to track others without their consent. Router and his handler, Detective Michael DeLeon, have searched two vehicles whose drivers suspected someone was tracking them with a hidden electronic device. Router found devices on both vehicles, authorities said.
DeLeon and Router attended the Yakima Domestic Violence Coalition meeting on Tuesday.
Router was trained to detect a chemical compound used in electronics production. He and DeLeon finished training and began working together in November.
Grants fully funded Router, whose skills are crucial for helping crack child sexual exploitation and cybercrime cases. Along with that, Router is trained to comfort victims and witnesses during interviews and court testimony.
“He was actually a service dog and failed as a service dog,” DeLeon said.
Router is food-motivated so when DeLeon brings out the kibble, Router gets to work. He wasn’t working that morning so was unfazed by all the cellphones aimed in his direction as DeLeon walked him around the Baker Boyer Bank meeting room.
“He knows when he’s working,” DeLeon said.
Yakima County has some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence and domestic violence in the state, with significant numbers of no-contact-order violations and stalking incidents. Those in Yakima who have reason to believe their vehicle is being tracked should first call police to make a report, DeLeon said. They can then drive to Yakima police offices so Router can search for it.
DeLeon and Router work in the department’s Special Assault Unit, which has seen significantly more visits since Router joined the staff, DeLeon said. Router’s still young and occasionally gets “the zoomies.”
