Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2002
Source: Daily Review, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 Morgan City Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.daily-review.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1876

SCHOOL BOARD OKS DRUG DOG PURCHASE

A drug-sniffing dog was purchased Thursday for $5,300 by the St. Mary 
Parish School Board to replace its predecessor, which recently died.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Department Deputy Melissa Lee, who serves as 
school system liaison, appealed to the board for funding to purchase the 
animal.

In addition to finding drugs, the dog also is used to perform random 
searches for weapons or other illegal items.

Lee said the dog, which was loaned to the school system by the Patterson 
Police Department, was valuable in confiscating the contraband.

She said the PPD made the dog available whenever needed to conduct random 
searches. Dogs owned by police departments in Morgan City and Franklin were 
not as accessible, she said.

The $5,300 cost will buy a dog fully trained to perform a variety of 
searches within the schools.

The dog will be housed and fed by the Patterson Police Department's K-9 
patrolman, Lee said.

A motion to purchase the dog passed without opposition at the monthly board 
meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Beth