This dog will find your electronic storage devices: Winnipeg Police Service

CTV’s Harrison Shin introduces you to Willow, a police dog trained to sniff and detect child sexual exploitation material on computers.

She’s a little goofy, but when she is working, she will get the job done.

Meet Willow, the Winnipeg Police Service’s first electronic storage device detection dog.

Working under the Internet Child Exploitation Unit, she can find cell phones, USB drives, memory cards, and others.

“Willow is the sixth dog in Canada to be trained to do electronic storage device detection. The first five are all in Ontario. She was number six in Manitoba,” said Sgt. Kerrie Webb, Willow’s primary handler. “What she is specifically trained to do is detect a specific chemical that all electronics that have storage or data contain.”

Willow joined the force in June 2025 and has been involved in executing more than 10 search warrants, finding more than 80 devices so far, Webb said.

So far, her presence has had a noticeable impact on the unit.

“It’s faster, and she’s finding the things that our suspects most don’t want us to find.”

Willow’s impact does not end at crime scenes—she is also a fully certified comfort dog, bringing a calm vibe to anyone who needs it.

“She also assists our service with providing comfort for anyone that wants it while providing a statement. Whether that be a victim or a witness, she has sat in on many statements now—and she just provides comfort, provides therapy, and provides a presence that’s calming.

“She just seems to know.”

Her comforting vibe does not stop there—she is the mood setter for the unit itself.

“My team of eight investigators—she greets them every morning when they’re coming in. And not only my team, but really the services as well.

“There isn’t a day we’re not walking down the hallway when I don’t hear, ‘This is the best part of my day.’”

Willow’s career change

Willow’s education started at a different waypoint.

“She was selected right from a puppy to be a seeing-eye dog. She was raised by puppy raisers for that purpose,” Webb said.

When Willow was a year old, she went to Florida for Seeing Eye Dog School for nine months—but her desire to smell was a deterrent to becoming a guide dog, Webb said.

“Also, she doesn’t love wearing the vest. For those two reasons alone, she did not succeed in that career path, so she’s been repurposed for this.”

‘Help protect everyone’s kids’

Webb said Willow was donated to the force by a non-profit organization, Our Rescue, in the United States.

“Their mission is to end sex trafficking; that’s why she was donated to our services. Willow’s become part of our team—to help protect everyone’s kids. That’s what’s important to us.”

Webb said Willow will continue to do what she is best at, and she hopes for a long career with her.

“We are so happy that she’s come to us. I’m so proud of her every single day. She’s just been such a great addition.”