Pubdate: Fri, 11 Feb 2005
Source: Daily Home, The (Talladega,  AL)
Copyright: 2005 Consolidated Publishing
Contact:  http://www.dailyhome.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1632
Author: Denise Sinclair
Note:  also listed as contact
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DOGS USED IN SWEEP OF SCHOOLS; NO DRUGS FOUND

SYLACAUGA - Drug dogs were used this week in a sweep of two schools,
but no drugs were found.

Police Chief Louis Zook said the Police Department's K9 units were
dispatched to Nichols-Lawson Middle School and Sylacauga High School
Tuesday at the request of the School System's administration.

The administration, Zook said, makes periodic requests for the
department to provide this service to schools. The department also
does searches on occasion.

"We do have narcotics detection dogs and we do use them if they are
requested for this purpose," Zook said.

Officer Tommy Allen and K9 officer Tracer and Officer Zack Underwood
and K9 officer Lavo went to both schools.

Basically, the schools are put into administrative lockdown while the
K9 units work, Zook said.

The narcotics detection dogs do what is known as a free air sniff of
lockers on all levels of the schools.

Zook said there was one indication of possible drugs in a locker at
Nichols-Lawson and two indications in lockers at the high school.

Administrators from the two schools were made aware of the indications
and location of the lockers. School officials then opened the lockers
and checked them out, Zook said.

"No drugs were found. There seemed to be a strong odor of marijuana in
the lockers," he said.

That odor, Zook said, could come from a coat, book bag or books that
may have been around a place where marijuana was used. He said the
odor gets in clothing, books or other things and when these are closed
up in a locker, the smell is there for the dog to detect.

"The dog goes completely on odor. There was no presence of drugs, the
odor was present," he said.

Zook said the dog can smell these odors when "you and I can't."

He said while no drugs were found, there is the unfortunate
implication that three students have been in the presence of illegal
drugs.

What is good about the procedure using the dogs, Zook said, is this
should eliminate any thoughts by students of bringing drugs to school.

"We try to do this at least every couple of months even without a
request from the (school) board. We can do it at any given time the
board requests it," he said.

Zook said these dogs can pick up odors from not only marijuana, but
drugs such as cocaine, meth and even pain killers.

"They can pretty well smell anything," he said.

Officials at the schools coordinated the search.

Schools Superintendent Jane Cobia said she views the search as a
deterrent for students to bring drugs on campus to sale or use.

"We can't control what students do outside school, we can try to keep
everyone safe from it happening at school. We invite the police in
frequently to do these sweeps," she said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin