LAWRENCEVILLE – The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has added a new, four-legged member to its fight against human trafficking and crimes against children.

K-9 Dee, a specially trained Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) dog, is now assisting the agency’s Trafficking and Child Exploitation (TRACE) Unit. The unit investigates human trafficking, gang activity, vice crimes, and the exploitation of minors, working in coordination with local, state, and federal agencies.

K-9 Dee is trained to sniff out hidden digital devices, such as micro-SD cards and hard drives, that may contain child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Her ability to locate evidence that’s easily concealed is helping investigators recover time-sensitive data that might otherwise be missed.

“This K-9 is a tremendous asset to the public,” said Assistant Chief Godfrey, commander of Field Operations. “She plays a critical role in addressing crimes against our most vulnerable populations and supports a wide range of criminal investigations.”

TRACE routinely conducts victim recovery operations and arrests individuals involved in crimes against children. With K-9 Dee’s help, the unit is enhancing its ability to identify offenders and protect at-risk individuals across Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta.

The Sheriff’s Office said it remains committed to using innovative tools and strategies to support regional law enforcement efforts and bring offenders to justice.