A 21st Century Sherlock Holmes visits Discover U
Forensic science in the 1800s was never like this. Imagine the world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes at a computer with international police connections, and his partner, Dr. Watson, as a two-year-old Labrador Retriever.
Detective Brian Pereira and K-9 Frankie were welcomed to the Paradise Valley Estates Discover U speaker series in June to discuss forensic science in criminal investigations, and the role played by a specially trained K-9 assistant. The standing-room-only crowd paid close attention and engaged Pereira in a 20-minute question and answer period.
In April, the Fairfield Police Department proudly introduced their newest member of the K-9 Unit, Frankie, a Labrador Retriever that specializes in the detection of hidden electronic digital storage media including cell phones, thumb drives, flash drives and computer hard drives. These devices often contain key evidence and crucial clues in the investigation of crimes against children, child pornography and sex trafficking cases.
Frankie is partnered with Electronic Crimes Detective Brian Pereira, and assigned to the Investigations Bureau where Pereira specializes in computer and cell phone forensics. Forensic science is the application of science to civil and criminal law.
Detective Pereira and Frankie had two weeks of intensive training in Indiana at Jordan Detection K-9 which received national attention by locating the incriminating evidence in the Jared (Subway guy) Fogle case several years ago. This was one of the first cases that utilized a specially trained K-9 to detect hidden electronic evidence.
Frankie and Detective Pereira are the first team to deploy in California that specializes in this unique search ability. The Fairfield Police Department was fortunate to receive K-9 Frankie through a generous donation made by Doterra Healing Hands Foundation through Operation Underground Railroad. Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) is a group dedicated to rescuing children from sex trafficking through international efforts. To date, O.U.R. has assisted in the rescue of more than 1,000 children and the prosecution of an estimated 435 suspected sex traffickers throughout the world.
Fairfield Police Department team conducted their first search in California this past April. During the execution of a search warrant, Frankie was successful in locating three pieces of electronic evidence.
At the conclusion of the program, Discover U presented a donation from Paradise Valley Estates to the Fairfield Police Department K-9 corps, accepted by Detective Pereira.
