SCDPPPS' K-9 Chip Uncovers Hundreds of Devices in Sex Offender Home Searches

South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services’ K-9 Chip Uncovers Hundreds of Devices in Sex Offender Home Searches (Columbia, SC) K-9 “Chip,” the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services’(SCDPPPS) electronic detection dog is earning his keep, recently assisting in his 50th arrest. K9 Chip, is a Golden Retriever Labrador mix donated to SCDPPPS by Defenders for Children and trained by Jordan Detection K9 in Indiana.

K-9 Chip and his handler, SCDPPPS Agent Benjy Partain, have participated in hundreds of searches since the agency acquired the K-9 in November 2022. From June 2024 to July 2025 alone (Fiscal Year 2025),
Chip and Benjy conducted 121 searches resulting in the discovery of 537 electronic items. Of those items, 116 were seized as evidence in a criminal investigation. This fiscal year alone, K-9 Chip’s searches
have resulted in 24 offender violations and arrests.

Cumulatively, since the program began in 2022, 351 searches have been conducted. In total, the efforts of Agent Partain and K-9 Chip have now resulted in 42 criminal charges, 166 violations and 1,189 electronic devices being found. The actions of Agent Partain and Chip have led to the rescue of two live victims of sex crimes during that time.

In one particular case, K-9 Chip and Agent Partain aided in the rescue of a victim being actively abused by her stepfather. Chip located a device which contained evidence of the abuse, leading to criminal
charges of the stepfather.

In public safety circles, Electronic Storage Detection, or ESD, K-9s are largely outnumbered by other kinds of law enforcement dogs. But unlike bomb detection or search-and-rescue (SAR) K-9s, Chip is trained to sniff out specific materials used in the manufacture of electronics. His jurisdiction includes the homes and personal property of suspected sex offenders, rather than airports and disaster scenes.

Sex offenders storing pornography or evidence of abuse in smart phones, USB drives and other electronics may attempt to hide those devices from investigators or, if previously convicted, their probation agents. Floors and walls are sometimes utilized by offenders to conceal electronic contraband from the eyes of human authorities.

Agent Partain and Chip have also recently taken advantage of additional training opportunities. During the past fiscal year, they attended the Jordan Detection K-9 annual certification training. While there,
Agent Partain was rewarded with a Level II certification, and he was selected by Jordan Detection K-9 to be a certifier of other K-9 handlers.

Similar to other K-9 and handler partnerships, Agent Partain is Chip’s primary caregiver on duty and off. Chip goes home with Agent Partain and continues to train before each meal. Chip also accompanies
Agent Partain on out-of-state trips to conventions and law enforcement events where the duo serve as “brand ambassadors” for the emerging specialty of ESD K-9 law enforcement programs. SCDPPPS supervises 23,679 offenders living in the community throughout South Carolina. As of September 30, 2025, there are 640 “Jessie’s Law” child sex offenders under SCDPPPS active supervision.

Media Contact:
Scott A. Hawkins, SCDPPPS Public Information Director
803-734-9267 or scott.hawkins@ppp.sc.gov