What is Derrick’s expertise? He can sniff out substances such as drugs or gunshot residue and he does it with a 98.8 percent accuracy. He is a part of a group of rats being trained by the Dutch police for criminal investigations.

 

There are machines that can do what Derrick does, but he can do it much faster and cheaper. Under pressure to cut costs, the Dutch police started the program two years ago. For example, a test for gunshot residue requires several technicians, expensive lab equipment and chemicals and can take at least two hours. A rat like Derrick can do the same thing in seconds.

 

This is the first time ever to use rats in this way and there have been some difficulties in training them. But Derrick and his buddies should begin working in January of next year. It will be interesting to see how they perform.