LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — After five years of sniffing out evidence at fire scenes across Colorado, the state's arson evidence detection dog is officially retiring from service.
ROTC, a yellow Labrador retriever, worked alongside fire investigators with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The department says he assisted in more than 180 fire investigations, detecting accelerants like gasoline, diesel and lighter fluid.
“They're an invaluable asset when it comes to our investigations,” said Brian Eberle, ROTC's handler and a fire investigator.
ROTC's nose gave investigators a major advantage, able to detect even trace amounts of fuel within minutes, a task that might take human investigators hours.
With an estimated 94% success rate, ROTC played a key role in cases rang