A Historic Milestone: Our Rescue’s Largest Sponsored ESD K9 Graduation  

Last Friday, November 14, Our Rescue celebrated a landmark moment: sponsoring our largest-ever graduation class of Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s with 14 new partnerships. Since our first ESD K9 was deployed back in 2017, we have seen the immense impact these incredible dogs have in the fight against child sexual exploitation. In fact, in 2025, our ESD K9s have achieved an 83% success rate in the field, and from 2017–2024 they have delivered a 77% success rate overall when locating items on search warrants. 

From One to Many: Partnership Timeline with Jordan Detection K9 

• In 2015, Todd Jordan of Jordan Detection K9 began training his first Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s. These highly specialized dogs are trained to detect triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO)—a chemical compound used in the manufacturing of electronic storage devices. 

• In 2017, Our Rescue sponsored its first ESD K9, launching a partnership that has dramatically scaled up in the years that followed. 

• That first class of ESD K9s paved the way for what has now become a powerhouse program: from 2 ESD K9s in 2017 to 142 deployed crime-fighters 8 years later.  

Meet the Newest ESD K9 Graduates 

These exceptional dogs, paired with their dedicated handlers, will immediately begin their vital work across the U.S. and Canada: 

• Detective Cassie Barainca – K9 Trigger (Elko PD, NV) 

• Detective Nathan Folk – K9 Rella (Frisco PD, TX) 

• Detective Cody Parmenter – K9 Shiloh (Moline PD, IL) 

• Detective Wendy Winegar – K9 Millie (San Bernardino SO, CA) 

• Detective Alex Hoeppner – K9 Copper (Fort Worth PD, TX) 

• Detective Colin Dempsey – K9 Chip (Virginia Beach PD, VA) 

• Detective Phillip Young – K9 Nessa (Rockwall PD, TX) 

• Trooper Patrick Shea – K9 Ozzy (Massachusetts State Police) 

• Detective Dominic Paykarimah – K9 Piper (Ottawa Police Service, Canada) 

• Investigator Thomas Liles – K9 Able (Brazoria County SO, TX) 

• Special Agent Robert White – K9 Gracie (Iowa Dept. of Public Safety) 

• Sgt. Bryon Sommacal – K9 Taffey (Saskatoon Police Services, Canada) 

• Detective Landon Cooksey – K9 Dutch (Dallas PD, TX) 

• Investigator Angela Williams – K9 Trace (Mississippi Office of the Attorney General) 

This class brings the total number of Our Rescue–sponsored ESD K9s to 142, marking a significant expansion in the fight against child exploitation. 

Notable Highlights from This Graduation 

• K9 Gracie is taking over for retired K9 Mousse, continuing a legacy of service. 

• K9 Able is stepping in as the replacement for K9 Sully, who retired early due to health complications. 

• Five of the newly graduated K9s are headed to Texas, underscoring the state’s dedication to uncovering child exploitation. 

• Two of the graduates are being deployed to Canada, underscoring the momentum of our growing partnerships there. 

Why Do ESD K9s Matter?  

ESD K9s are trained to detect a chemical scent found in electronic storage devices, like SD cards, hard drives, tablets, items child predators often use to hide child sexual abuse material (CSAM).  

Finding a hidden device might seem small, until you read stories where predators hide evidence inside children’s toys. Exploiters intentionally hide these devices so that they are nearly impossible to spot with the human eye. That’s why ESD K9s matter so much. 

By funding these ESD K9 teams, Our Rescue empowers law enforcement agencies with the partners they need to uncover evidence that can be crucial to putting criminals behind bars. 

None of this would be possible without the generous support of Our Rescue’s donors. Our ESD K9 graduations remind us just how impactful giving can be, helping bring more lifesaving partners into the field to fight child predators. 

ESD K9 Zona’s handler, Forensics Analyst Gayle Warren, said:

“To Our Rescue donors, thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel like I want to cry almost—I’m so grateful for what you guys do. You give these dogs the purpose and the value of what they’re doing. They’re more than just a tool. They bring not only comfort to those of us who have to work these cases, but to the children who come out of the homes that we’re searching, and they can just comfort them. It’s just incredible. And we are so grateful, so very, very grateful for you guys.”

If you’re moved by the work these dogs are doing, consider supporting the ESD K9 program. Donations go directly toward training, placement, and long-term care for these vital heroes.