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Grantsville approves MOU to acquire electronic-storage detection canine for police
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 2025-30 to accept a donated electronic-storage detection canine through a memorandum of understanding with Our Rescue. Detective Bobby Bassett described the dog's ability to find SD cards, flash drives and other digital media and outlined partnerships for victim support and school inspections.
Grantsville City Council on April 23 approved Resolution 2025-30, a memorandum of understanding with the nonprofit Our Rescue to acquire an electronic-storage detection canine that can locate digital media and serve as a victim-support animal in interviews and crisis calls.
Detective Bobby Bassett told the council the dog is trained to detect the scent associated with electronic storage media such as SD cards, flash drives and cell phones. "The dog is trained just to find that scent," Bassett said, describing past uses in Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cases and noting the dog's potential in victim support and mental-health response.
Bassett said Our Rescue is donating and funding most startup costs: travel, training, equipment, and veterinary care. He said the department's obligations would be limited to the handler's time for training and on-going care as part of the officer's schedule. Bassett described the commitment as a multiyear one and noted annual certification requirements.
Councilmembers emphasized the dog's dual role. One councilmember noted the dog could be used in children's interviews at the local Children's Justice Center and for inspections for hidden cameras and tracking devices at schools; others mentioned the dog's use at public events and in mental-health responses. Bassett said partners, including the Children's Justice Center and a domestic violence shelter, had expressed interest in using the animal for victim comfort.
Councilmember Jenkins moved to approve the MOU; the motion was seconded. The council voted "Aye" on a voice vote and the motion carried. City staff said the dog could be available for community events by this summer, with training and certification scheduled over the next few months.
The council directed the police department and city staff to finalize the MOU and the schedule for training and certification, and to provide a short implementation plan to the council outlining handler time, on-duty care, and partnership uses.
