CNSTC: May 25, 2016

Page 1

May 25, 2016

Sniffing out cybercriminals Around Town

7

Genealogy classes at Renaud

Studens excel at SkillsUSA

8

School 10,000 in annual teacher grants

Photos courtesy St. Charles County Police Department Bonnie, a 50-pound Labrador is an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) dog for the St. Charles County Police. An ESD dog is a canine that can locate digital media storage devices (e.g., computers, hard drives, phones, SD cards) by sniffing out chemical compounds emitted from the devices.

St. Charles County police dog first of its kind in state to detect electronic storage devices

Business

9

Employee of the year awards

By Brett Auten What has four legs, a wet nose and has been called “the ultimate investigator?” Let us introduce you to Bonnie, a 50-pound Labrador, one of the newest additions to the St. Charles County Police Investigation team. Bonnie is unique in that she can sniff out the chemical odor that electronic storage devices such as thumb drives or SD cards gives. She is believed to be the first of her kind in Missouri. The two-year-old was one of just five Labradors to complete the five-week course. The others went to Alaska, Virginia, Massachusetts and the FBI. According to Lt. Christopher Mateja, commander of the department’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations Cyber Crime Unit, the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force is tasked primarily with conducting the forensic analysis of media suspected to contain evidence of criminal activity. The task force also conducts active investigations into illegal activity of individuals who prey on children via the internet. As the newest member of the task force, Bonnie will play the role of an investigator. During search warrants she will use her train-

ing as an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) to search for, locate and recover hidden electronics that may contain evidence of cybercrimes. An ESD dog is a canine that can locate digital media storage devices (e.g., computers, hard drives, phones, SD cards) by sniffing out chemical compounds emitted from the devices. “Bonnie is very outgoing and friendly to all she meets,” Mateja said. “She is very inquisitive which suits her well for her position in the unit. Bonnie takes the time each day to walk around the office and meet with each investigator.” Mateja said his agency is the Missouri hub for child pornography investigations, assisting other departments as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and funneling all of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports. The Connecticut State Police said in a press release that one of its forensic chemists, Jack Hubbal, isolated compounds that the dogs could track: triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), which surrounds the memory board in all phones and computers, and hydroxycy-

clohexyl phenyl ketone (HPK), found on DVDs, CDs and floppy disks. The dogs can also detect chemical odors from thumb drives, USB drives, hard drives, SD cards and micro SD cards commonly found inside digital cameras. The Marc Bulger Foundation donated See POLICE DOG on page 2

Learn & Play

Feed your fitness

Movie: Celebrating Memorial Day at the movies

FREE Online Subscription at mycnews.com

11


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.