K9 Buck Sniffs Out Electronic Evidence for Johnson City Police

The 2.5-year-old English Labrador is the department's first electronic storage detection dog.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Johnson City Police Department has a new tool in its arsenal to investigate crimes involving electronic evidence - a 2.5-year-old English Labrador named K9 Buck. Buck is trained to detect electronic storage devices like cellphones, hard drives, and SD cards, and works with the department's Special Victims Unit on Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and child exploitation cases.

Why it matters

Electronic evidence is increasingly crucial in many criminal investigations, but can be difficult for human officers to locate. K9s like Buck, with their heightened sense of smell, can find hidden devices that may contain key evidence. The addition of Buck and a full-time ICAC investigator expands the department's capabilities to thoroughly investigate these complex cases.

The details

K9 Buck and his handler, JCPD Sgt. Tim Hensley, recently received certifications in indoor, outdoor and vehicle searches after completing a 150-hour training course. Buck is trained to detect triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), a fire retardant found on electronic storage devices. He completes 3-10 training exercises per day, where Hensley hides devices for Buck to find in exchange for treats. Outside of investigations, Buck is also trained in executive protection and can find hidden cameras or listening devices.

  • K9 Buck and Sgt. Hensley received their certifications in February 2026.

The players

K9 Buck

A 2.5-year-old English Labrador who is the Johnson City Police Department's first electronic storage detection dog.

Sgt. Tim Hensley

K9 Buck's handler and a sergeant with the Johnson City Police Department.

Eric Dougherty

The chief of the Johnson City Police Department.

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What they’re saying

“So much of that is done electronically, whether it be images that are stored or the communications that take place. So that's where [Buck] really shines, is being able to identify and locate those devices for investigators to continue their investigations.”

— Sgt. Tim Hensley (Johnson City Press)

“So often, people don't give criminals the credit they're due. They're smart just like the rest of us. They're very creative in how they hide the things in a manner that, as humans, we can miss on these searches.”

— Sgt. Tim Hensley (Johnson City Press)

“In my 10-hour day, I probably spend the better half of it working with him. He's my best buddy. We go everywhere together and he does everything with me.”

— Sgt. Tim Hensley (Johnson City Press)

What’s next

Buck is currently available to assist surrounding law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee, and Sgt. Hensley is working to expand his services to Southwest Virginia and North Carolina.

The takeaway

The addition of K9 Buck and a dedicated ICAC investigator demonstrates the Johnson City Police Department's commitment to thoroughly investigating complex crimes involving electronic evidence, which is increasingly crucial in many cases.