Big paws to fill: Electronic scent detection dog retires from Internet Crimes Against Children unit
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After six years on the job, it鈥檚 time for K9 Joey to learn how to be a regular dog. That includes learning how to eat out of a bowl.
Special Agent Joey, a Labrador who was employed with the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at the New Mexico Department of Justice, retired on Monday from his job as an electronic scent detection (ESD) K9. He helped the department sniff out phones and other digital devices.
Food is an important part of that, said Joey鈥檚 handler Owen Pe帽a. Labradors and retrievers have a strong food drive, Pe帽a said, which makes them well-suited to ESD work. Because Joey had to move from scene to scene, Pe帽a exclusively fed him by hand as a reward for his work.
鈥淭hey have to work to eat on a daily basis,鈥� Pe帽a said.
Joey was at the top of his class, ranking 13th out of more than 150 dogs around the country. A precocious pup, Joey started at the unit in 2018 at just 2 years old.
鈥淔rom the start, he was a force to be reckoned with in his pursuit of justice,鈥� Pe帽a said.
He鈥檚 been a 鈥渟teadfast partner and friend鈥� since, Pe帽a said at the retirement party in Albuquerque. Now 8, Joey was awarded for his labors with a plaque and a bone-shaped cake, which sent the special agent into a wriggling frenzy as he tried to snag fallen chopped nuts.
ESD K9s can typically work until they are around 10 years old, said Department of Justice director of communications Lauren Rodriguez. Joey is slowing down, Rodriguez said, 鈥渟o his retirement is coming at just the right time.鈥�
Joey, whose muzzle is now grizzled, cried at the retirement party, whining until Pe帽a gave him an encouraging scratch. Pe帽a, at times, also seemed overcome with emotion as his partner was honored.
Joey鈥檚 powerful nose makes light work of crime scenes that could take his human coworkers hours to comb through. He鈥檚 trained to detect triphenylphosphine oxide, TPPO, a chemical used in the manufacture of SIM cards and other electronic storage components.
That came in handy when the unit was searching a hoarder house. Joey was 鈥渋nstrumental鈥� in detecting hidden cellphones with illegal content, Pe帽a said.
Joey also helped comfort children while on duty. Other staff members lauded Joey鈥檚 ability to keep things light as members grappled with the intense work of the unit with a smile and wagging tail.
鈥淗is presence really helps to ease the psychological and emotional burden,鈥� said Attorney General Ra煤l Torrez. 鈥淗e鈥檚 much more than just an electronic scent detection dog. He鈥檚 a member of this team.鈥�
Retirement for Joey will include swimming in Pe帽a鈥檚 pool and more time with 鈥渕om鈥� 鈥� Pe帽a鈥檚 wife.
Two new electronic scent detection dogs, Special Agent Nyx and Special Agent Gadget, joined the team on Monday, although they have big paws to fill.
