FRANKFORT, Ky. — A four-and-a-half-year-old yellow English Labrador named Charity has joined investigators in the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office as a specialized detection dog deployed in child exploitation cases.
How the dog works
Detective Shelby Guffey, handler with the office’s Special Victims Unit, said Charity is trained to locate small electronic storage devices that can hold child sexual abuse material. The dog detects a chemical commonly present on electronics, allowing her to find items that human searchers sometimes miss.
Guffey told investigators that what might take hours manually can be located in minutes with Charity on scene. In one recent instance, Charity found a phone hidden inside a wall after a search team had already completed an extended search of the residence without locating the device.
“We’ve had a recent scenario locally where a team had been searching in this residence for an extended period of time — they were unable to locate a phone — within several minutes of our deployment on scene we were able to locate that device within a wall,” Guffey said.
Detection, concealment and evidence recovery
Charity’s training enables her to pinpoint devices concealed inside everyday objects. Guffey demonstrated that a hollowed-out marker could hide a SIM card, underlining how offenders sometimes use common items to store incriminating material.
Guffey emphasized the unit’s concern for leaving no traces of evidence behind and said the dog increases investigators’ confidence that searches are thorough.
Attorney General stresses evolving threat
Attorney General Russell Coleman described technology as an expanding avenue used by offenders to commit crimes against children. He said the office sought to add every available investigative tool to its efforts to protect children.
“The threat is growing, so with technology being used by the bad guys, we needed every tool in our tool kit to help protect the good guys and help protect our kids,” Coleman said.
Dual role at scenes
Beyond locating devices, Charity also serves as a companion for children who are present during investigations. The dog’s presence aims to provide emotional support to victims and witnesses, a role increasingly recognized in child-focused investigative work.
- Charity: 4.5-year-old yellow English Labrador
- Handler: Detective Shelby Guffey, Special Victims Unit
- Detection target: electronic devices and associated chemical signature
Officials say combining evidence detection with a comforting presence can help investigators both locate crucial digital evidence and reduce the trauma experienced by child victims during interviews and on-scene activity.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Breed / Age | Yellow English Labrador, 4½ years |
| Primary task | Locate hidden electronic devices (phones, SIM cards, storage) |
| Secondary role | Companion for children at crime scenes |
Local impact and investigative value
For law enforcement, locating digital storage quickly is critical. Electronic devices often contain the primary evidence in child exploitation prosecutions — images, messages and location data — and can otherwise be overlooked if concealed cleverly. Using a detection dog speeds searches and may preserve evidence that could be destroyed or moved.
Prosecutors and investigators rely increasingly on a mix of technology and traditional fieldwork. Charity’s deployment reflects that blend: a biological detector using scent to compensate for limits in time, manpower and line-of-sight in cluttered or concealed spaces.
What this means for residents
Officials say the program is intended to strengthen investigative capabilities against those who use modern devices to hide or distribute illegal material. The Attorney General’s Office did not say how often Charity has been deployed, but the example cited underscores a practical benefit for ongoing investigations.
The office’s wider effort to use K-9 detection and victim-centered practices signals a continued focus on child protection as digital tools expand the avenues for exploitation.
As the technology landscape evolves, state law enforcement leaders say they will continue to explore tools — both technological and biological — to stay ahead of those targeting children online and offline.
Reporting from the State Capitol.
