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Council ratifies $50,000 grant and accepts vehicle to support CAC’s electronic storage detection canine
Summary
Elko City Council ratified a $50,000 grant from Friends of the Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center to offset costs of an electronic storage detection (ESD) canine program, accepted a donated 2025 Ford Expedition from Elko County for CAC use, and heard presentations on the canine’s investigative and trauma-support roles.
Elko City Council on Nov. 25 ratified a $50,000 grant to support an electronic storage detection (ESD) canine program for the Great Basin Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and accepted a donated 2025 Ford Expedition from Elko County for use by a detective assigned to the CAC.
Detective Cassie Baranca, introduced at the council chamber podium, described Trigger as a 2½-year-old golden-retriever/Labrador mix trained as an electronic storage detection canine to locate digital storage devices (phones, thumb drives, SD cards) by detecting an odorant (TPPO) used on storage devices to prevent overheating. "He is trained to locate any digital device that is capable of storing digital data," Baranca said, and added that Trigger is also a therapy dog trained in deep-pressure therapy to help calm children during forensic interviews and courtroom testimony.
Staff told the council that 'Our Rescue' sponsored the canine acquisition and that Friends of the Great Basin Children’s Advocacy Center (a local 501(c)(3)) donated $50,000 to the city to offset program costs not covered by the sponsorship. District Attorney Tyler Ingram clarified funding sources for the vehicle donation: he said the county purchased vehicles using William Pennington Foundation funds and donated one to the city. "This is a private donation, and then the county purchased those vehicles and donated one to the city," Ingram said.
Council moved to ratify acceptance of the $50,000 grant (motion by council member, seconded) and approved acceptance of the vehicle donation (a 2025 Ford Expedition, estimated value $66,400.75) by voice vote. Council and staff said the grant will cover nearly four years of handler and program costs; staff also noted partner counties have expressed interest in the ESD resource.
Detective Baranca and CAC representatives said Trigger will assist on investigations across multiple types of crimes and provide trauma-informed support for child victims. The council thanked donors and staff and encouraged attendance at a public demonstration planned for the department's "first Tuesday" outreach event.
