Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2003
Source: Parkersburg News, The (WV)
Copyright: 2003, The Parkersburg News
Contact:  http://www.newsandsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1648
Author: TRACY EZOLT

DRUG DOG'S EXPLOITS SHOWN OFF AT BELPRE COUNCIL MEETING

Belpre Police Department's drug dog, Dutch, located drugs Monday night in 
city council chambers.

The drugs were planted by officers to show city council members what Dutch 
does on the job and how he is a useful purchase for the city. Dutch, a 
three-year-old Dutch Shepherd, and his trainer, patrolman Scott Smeeks, 
have worked together since May 2001. Dutch's duties include drug work, 
officer protection and patrol work, which also includes tracking people, 
evidence searches and building searches. Smeeks helped raise more than 
$12,000 to purchase Dutch for the city.

Smeeks said Dutch's sense of smell is superior to any human or machine, 
which makes him an asset to the police force. When Dutch smells drugs, he 
sits down and this indicates to the officer a presence of drugs on the 
individual or in the car.

Before a canine unit was added to the Belpre department, officers made 50 
drug arrests during 2000. Since Dutch has been in service, there have been 
120 drug arrests in 2002.

During 2002 Dutch and his trainer have confiscated 21 grams of cocaine, 
three grams of methamphetamine, 537 grams of marijuana and 52 tablets of 
ecstasy, police said. Dutch helped confiscate 35 illegal prescription 
drugs, 123 items of drug paraphernalia and helped confiscate $11,000 of 
possible drug money, Smeeks said.

The dog assisted police departments in Athens County, Washington County and 
Meigs County. Dutch has been involved in demonstrations for area 
organizations on his duties.

In 2002, Dutch walked around 208 vehicles. Of those, Dutch helped to locate 
101 vehicles with drugs, drug paraphernalia or admitted use of drugs in the 
vehicle, police said.

According to Smeeks, Dutch's accuracy rate is about 87 percent and this is 
above the federal court standard of 75 to 82 percent.

Besides drugs, Dutch has helped track two out of five individuals.

Smeeks said he trains about 200 hours a year to work with Dutch. Dutch's 
work has led to more than $10,000 for the city from drug arrests, Smeeks said.

Smeeks said Dutch has several more years of duty on the force. He said the 
only reason Dutch could not continue his duties is if he begins to 
experience hip problems.

Smeeks thanked his wife, Annette, and family for helping him with the 
24-hour job of taking care of Dutch, which has been stressful and time 
consuming.

"It was more time than I ever would imagine," Smeeks said. "When you want a 
dog you can trust and have faith in, you have to go out and train."

In other council news, Mayor Bill McAfee and Safety-Service Director Dale 
Myers, reported the accomplishments of the year, including work on the 
waste treatment plant, the water treatment plant and improvements for the 
streets department.

McAfee noted the addition of 11 businesses in 2002.

City Auditor Patrick Hines provided a positive outlook for finances in 
Belpre for the new year despite reports in other small towns of cutbacks 
and shortfalls.

"All the funds are in relatively good shape at the end of the year," Hines 
said. "We have more carryover this year than we've ever had."

Council members attempted to pass the second reading of an ordinance 
regarding junk cars. As it reads, Belpre business owners would no longer be 
permitted to store more than one inoperable vehicle on their premises for 
more than 90 days without a fence surrounding it.

The ordinance would prohibit commercial property, except zoned or licensed 
junkyards, from storing more than one inoperable vehicle unless there is a 
surrounding fence.

The fencing is required to be at least six feet in height and constructed 
of nontransparent and noncorrosive material.

According to the ordinance, the fence is required "to obscure the vehicles 
in the enclosure from the ordinary view of city residents and persons 
passing upon highways, streets and alleys."

The fence must be maintained and no advertisements can be placed on them 
except for the name of the business.

The ordinance stated that the safety service director is in charge of 
enforcement. Any violation that occurs will result in the commercial 
property owner being fined $100. Each day the violation is not corrected 
could result in further fines.

It did not make it past a second reading because several council members 
and a few citizens voiced concerns over the ordinance and it was put back 
into committee for revision.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart