Pubdate: Thu, 04 Nov 2004
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Author: Tonia Holbrook, The Courier-Journa
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

BULLITT SCHOOL DRUG SWEEPS BRING 1 ARREST, 9 CITATIONS

Kentucky State Police arrested one student and cited nine others last
week in drug sweeps at Bullitt County's three high schools.

Police arrived unannounced at Bullitt Central, Bullitt East and North
Bullitt high schools Friday and used seven drug-sniffing dogs to
search lockers, classrooms and parking lots for illegal drugs, Trooper
John Nokes said. They found small amounts of marijuana and about 25
pills, all prescription muscle relaxants, at Bullitt Central and
Bullitt East.

Jeffery , 18, of Mount Washington was arrested at Bullitt
East and charged with possession of marijuana. Williams posted $1,000
surety bond that night, and he is scheduled to appear in court today.

Neither police nor school officials identified the nine students who
were cited, because they are minors.

Nokes said the amount of drugs confiscated wasn't any larger than they
typically find during school sweeps.

School officials requested the action after being offered the service
by the state police, said Pat Smith-Darnell, the school system's
director of anti-drug programs.

That offer was made to school systems two years ago, after state
police added 16 German shepherds to their statewide dog unit, bringing
the total to 25.

Some of the dogs are trained to sniff for bombs and bodies, Nokes
said.

He said it's up to the schools to ask for the drug sweeps.

Smith-Darnell said she hopes the sweeps will get the message to
students that drug activity at school won't be tolerated.

According to school district policy, students caught with illegal
drugs on campus can be suspended up to five days for a first offense,
Smith-Darnell said. Second offenses or any trafficking between
students calls for automatic recommendation of expulsion, she said.

The school board has the final say in those cases.

The anti-drug team did not have time to do a complete search at North
Bullitt. Smith-Darnell said the dogs will do another search there
before the school year ends.
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