Sheriff’s ‘electronic detection’ K-9 Stretch, handler honored
A key member of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office recently was honored for his dogged efforts to sniff out evidence in the fight again human trafficking.
On Wednesday, eight members of the FBI presented an award to K-9 Officer Stretch, a 5-year-old Labrador Retriever lauded for his work sniffing out electronic devices.
Stretch has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2022. According to the agency, he is certified in detecting electronic equipment including sim cards, SD cards, flash drives, hard drives, computers, tablets and cellphones. The items are an important potential source for evidence in human trafficking investigations.
Alongside his handler, Deputy James Liedel, Stretch is used as part of the sheriff’s VIPER (Violent Internet Predator & Exploitation Response) Task Force.
The FBI’s award to Liedel and Stretch “recognized their outstanding work and continued partnership with the FBI over the past several years,” according to a press release.
When he joined the team, he became just the third certified electronic detection canine in the state of Michigan, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The other two are utilized by Michigan State Police.
Stretch joined the agency thanks to the Shielded Souls Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, which paid for the animal, and all costs related to his training. Liedel underwent a two-week handler course after completing a 12-week training program with Stretch.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, the specialized training teaches the dogs to focus on finding potential evidence and to ignore other electronics like microwaves, lamps or alarm clocks.
Stretch takes his name from a deceased member of the motorcycle club who played a major role in raising funds to buy the canine.