K-9 Sandi is ATF Explosives Detection Canine assigned to the Chicago Field Division with Special Agent Canine Handler (SACH) Jason Salerno. Her job is to find explosives, guns and ammunition. K-9 Sandi is also an ATF Search Enhanced Evidence K-9 (S.E.E.K.) able to work off leash up to 150 yards away from her handler and detect more than 19,000 distinct odors. She started her training with the Auburn University Canine Training Program.

Recent Find

In early 2021, local law enforcement requested assistance in finding evidence in a homicide investigation.  K-9 Sandi began searching the crime scene that was covered in three inches of ice and the temperature was negative 17 degrees outside.  She helped to recover a .22 caliber pistol that required a hammer to remove it from the ice. The recovered pistol was a ballistics match to the gun that was used to kill a female victim.

Local police also requested assistance from K-9 Sandi to find evidence in a recent violent crime. K-9 Sandi recovered a .22 caliber, 2-shot Derringer pistol which was used in an armed carjacking. The pistol was recovered three weeks after several article search canines looked for the same firearm and didn’t locate the crime gun.