Granger, an Electronic Storage Device Detection K9 for the Wisconsin Department of Justice. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With a growing number of online crimes against children occurring, Wisconsin is expanding its use of K9s that can help hold offenders accountable.
Police agents from across the country who specialize in internet crimes against children are gathering at an annual conference in Appleton this week.
Granger, a 2.5-year-old lab, and his handler, Kade Goodrich, are one of the newest crime-fighting teams for the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Granger is one of 10 in the state trained to detect electronic storage devices.
“He detects on TPPO, which is the chemical compound that is in the fire-retardant glue that’s on all electronic storage devices,” said Goodrich, a special agent for the DOJ.
Wisconsin’s first ESD detection dog started working in 2018. As the number of agencies with the specialized K9s has grown, so has the number of tips to the Internet Crimes Against Children Wisconsin Task Force. In 2021, the state received 4,671 cyber tips. Last year, the number was 19,767.
Task force arrests are also up, increasing from over 500 in 2024 to more than 600 in 2025, according to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.
“What parents need to know is communicating with your kids about this issue is critical,” said Kaul.
The K9s can be used for any suspected crime where electronic storage devices could be hidden.
“It can be as small as a micro SD card in the ceiling, and they will locate that,” said Tami Lepianka, a special agent in charge for the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation.
Two of the K9s belong to the state and the others to agencies scattered across the southern part of Wisconsin.
“Their agencies are wonderful and allow their dogs to actually deploy outside of their jurisdictions, so each of these dogs has deployed throughout the state of Wisconsin for many different child exploitation investigations,” said Lepianka.
The hope is to eventually have some dogs based in the northern part of the state, as well.
The K9s and their handlers trained with Jordan Detection out of Indiana. The dogs trained there for a few months and the handlers joined them for a few weeks. The dogs train 2-3 per day, as they are reward fed.
Resources from the Internet Crimes Against Children Wisconsin Task Force
The task force has compiled the below resources for parents and their kids on how to stay safe online.
Tips For Teens Who May Be Victims of Sextortion
- Remember, it’s not your fault!
- It’s never too late to get help. Tell a parent or trusted adult right away.
- Do not pay money or comply with the blackmailer’s requests.
- Report the account through the platform’s safety feature.
- Block the suspect, but DO NOT DELETE the messages or your profile to preserve potential evidence for law enforcement.
- Report the crime to law enforcement or at CyberTipLine.com.
Online Safety Tips for Parents
The best way parents can protect children online is through creating and maintaining open lines of communication. Prepare your children for the online world by talking to them about dangers and risks online, as well as their online activity, including the websites they are visiting, the people they are communicating with, the information they are posting about themselves, and any situations that make them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. The Wisconsin ICAC Task Force offers a monthly newsletter for the public on internet related safety information. You can register at Wisconsin Department of Justice – Wisconsin ICAC Task Force Community/Parent Newsletter. Additional resources can be found on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website https://www.missingkids.org/home.
Report Online Concerns
If you or someone you know has information on potential child exploitation, you can report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children online at cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
About the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force
The Wisconsin ICAC Task Force is part of a nationwide network of 61 task forces and is led by DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation. The Wisconsin ICAC Task Force offers a variety of services including investigation and prosecution of offenders of internet crime, investigative and prosecutorial assistance for police agencies and prosecutors, victim services, training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors, and coordination of internet safety education for parents, teachers and community members.
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