Pubdate: Tue, 02 Apr 2002
Source: Elko Daily Free Press (NV)
Copyright: 2002 Elko Daily Free Press
Contact:  http://www.elkodaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2326
Author: Judy Andreson

DOGS SNIFF SCHOOL IN SEARCH FOR DRUGS

SPRING CREEK - Elko County Sheriff's Office drug-sniffing dogs made a sweep 
of Spring Creek High School's parking lot Monday.

It was a nice day and the dogs were available, Spring Creek High School 
Vice Principal Mike Altenburg said of the routine drug sweep.

Altenburg also said the checks are done on an irregular schedule to ensure 
there are no drugs on the campus.

"To my knowledge there has never been a positive hit," he said. "It is good 
training for the dogs and a lot of times deputies will plant some marijuana 
just to see if the dogs will pick it up."

The county's drug sniffing K-9s began the sweep at around 9 a.m.

"It was just a routine check," said Elko County Sheriff Neil Harris, "and 
we didn't find anything."

According to Undersheriff Steve Bishop, the sheriff's office has a team of 
three deputies on K-9 patrol. They are Sgt. Bill Schultz, Doug Gailey and 
Lee Foster. Once or twice a year the drug sniffing dogs, along with their 
handlers, visit all the junior and senior high schools for training and 
check for drugs.

"If we see an increase in drug activity or get a call from school 
officials," Harris said, "we'll hit them more often."