Accelerant Detection Canine 

Tutty, Wisconsin DOJ’s “Accelerant Detection Canine,” was born into a life of public service in August 2016. Tutty was initially destined to become a service dog through the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, raised by a college-age female and her family during his initial year of training and introduced to numerous public settings such as restaurants, malls, school, etc. in that timeframe.  When it was determined that Tutty was not a suitable match for the Guide Dog Foundation, he was assessed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and passed the initial screening process to be trained as an Accelerant Detection Canine. Tutty then went to Front Royal, Virginia where the ATF Canine Training Center is located. Wisconsin DOJ Special Agent Tiffany Ince, selected to be the next DOJ Accelerant Detection Canine handler, joined Tutty at the ATF Canine Training Center on October 30, 2017 for six weeks of intensive daily training. Upon completion of their training and receiving their certification, Special Agent Ince and Tutty returned to Wisconsin to start their first day in the office on December 11, 2017.  Tutty continues to train with Special Agent Ince twice a day, seven days a week, and responds with Special Agent Ince to fire origin and cause investigations.  When Tutty is off-duty, he spends his time with Special Agent Ince, just like any other family pet. 

According to its website, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind began in 1946 with the mission to provide guide dogs and training, free of charge, to people who were blind or visually impaired.  Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to people who are blind, have low vision or have other disabilities.  They’ve also expanded their program to provide dogs to veterans.  To learn more about the Guide Dog Foundation, please visit https://www.guidedog.org/Default.aspx

There are currently 55 active ATF Accelerant Detection Canines across the United States. To learn more about ATF accelerant and explosives detection canines, please visit https://www.atf.gov/explosives/accelerant-and-explosives-detection-canines

Electronic Storage Detection Canine 

Kozak, the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) Canine began his training in public service in the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) program. ICAN uses inmates from Indiana Correctional facilities to train and place assistance service dogs in homes with disabled individuals. During this time, Kozak was recognized to possess characteristics sought in law enforcement scent detection canines. Kozak was evaluated by Jordan Detection and subsequently was moved to the Jordan Detection ESD Canine program. Kozak was identified as an ideal canine for ESD detection and began his training in the Spring of 2018.

An Indiana based non-profit organization, Neighborhood Electronic Detection K-9 Inc., funded Kozak’s ESD training and selected DCI as Kozak’s home agency. To learn more about Neighborhood Electronic Detection K-9 Inc., please visit http://neighborhoodk9.com.

DCI Special Agent Tamara Taubel was selected to be the first ESD Canine handler in the State of Wisconsin. In August of 2018, Special Agent Taubel joined Kozak at the Jordan Detection training facility in Indiana where they were trained by Todd Jordan. Upon completion of their training they were certified as an ESD Canine team, Special Agent Taubel and Kozak immediately began their work in the state of Wisconsin. Kozak and Special Agent Taubel continue to create a bond as they reside, work, and train together daily. Special Agent Taubel’s primary assignment is to the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. Kozak is utilized to locate vital evidence in these types of investigations.

In general, law enforcement has seen a shift in more electronic storage devices being pertinent in all types of crimes. As a result, Special Agent Taubel and Kozak have been deployed and successfully located electronic storage devices of evidentiary value in ICAC, narcotic, homicide, missing person, invasion of privacy, and financial investigations throughout the state of Wisconsin. Kozak has responded at the request of Minnesota law enforcement agencies to assist with their investigations, due to Kozak being the only ESD Canine in the region.

In addition to Kozak’s primary role, he also acts as a comfort canine for victimized children. In this capacity, Kozak may remain with the child not only for interviews, but also through the court process.

Kozak is named in honor of Alicia Kozakiewicz, who is a child kidnapping survivor and renowned advocate for child internet safety and the namesake for Wisconsin’s “Alicia’s Law,” enacted in 2016. For further information regarding “Alicia’s Law” and her continued efforts to protect children, visit http://www.aliciaproject.org/alicias-law.html.

Narcotics Detection Canine

“Rev” began his career in public service after being acquired from K-9 Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2020. Rev was initially acquired by the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group-Drug Unit (LWAM) which is a multijurisdictional drug task force comprised of 15 participating law enforcement agencies. Rev assisted LWAM with drug trafficking investigations throughout Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du lac and Calumet Counties with an emphasis on disrupting and/or dismantling drug trafficking organizations negatively impacting communities in North East Wisconsin.

Rev, a 5-year-old black lab, is a single purpose narcotics detection canine trained to detect odor of specific controlled substances. Rev and his handler completed their initial training and certification through K-9 Services and immediately went to work assisting local law enforcement agencies and drug task force operations. Since Rev was acquired in 2020, Rev has been deployed on multiple occasions and has played a crucial role in many large-scale drug seizures including hundreds of pounds of illegal controlled substances as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit currency attributed to drug trafficking.

In early 2023, a Special Agent from the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation was selected to be Rev’s handler in cooperation with LWAM. Rev and his handler continue to conduct daily training and annual recertifications, routinely assisting with narcotics investigations of statewide importance as well as facilitate assistance to local law enforcement agencies and drug task forces. When rev is off-duty, he spends his time relaxing and playing fetch at home with his handler.