Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2007
Source: Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT)
Copyright: 2007sMediaNews Group, Inc
Contact:  http://www.connpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/574
Author: Matthew Higbee
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL TO SEARCH FOR DRUGS; NO STUDENTS FACE ARREST IF CAUGHT

DERBY -- In an effort to keep drugs out of Derby High  School, the
Board of Education is calling in the dogs.  Supt. of Schools Janet
Robinson is asking the Derby  Police Department to bring drug-sniffing
dogs to the  high school this spring to perform hallway sweeps of 
lockers. Similar efforts are in place at surrounding school
districts, including Ansonia, Shelton and  Stratford. Robinson said
she hoped the effort would  proactively stop students from bringing
drugs to  school.

"From the winter into the spring, the problem always  gets worse. This
is an attempt to put a protocol in  place," she said. The Board of
Education on Thursday  authorized Robinson to enter into a memorandum
of  understanding with the Police Department that  establishes a
protocol for when the dogs will be used  and what will happen if drugs
are found.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs on  school grounds,"
said Board of Education Chairman  Martin Hubbard. "We want to get the
message out that  they won't be tolerated. They shouldn't be a part of
 our students' lives."

Once the agreement is in place, Robinson said she hoped  to have one
sweep in February and a second later in the  spring. Robinson also
said she wanted to create a  protocol that did not necessarily result
in an arrest  if a dog sniffs illegal drugs outside a closed locker. 
"We're inviting the police in, so we can retain the control. We're
not out to arrest students. We just want  the drugs out of the school."

Robinson said students suspected of having drugs in their lockers
would be  handled administratively. Stratford Detective Capt. Thomas
Rodia said his department had such a procedure in place with
Stratford High School, where sweeps are  performed as frequently as
once a month. Stratford  administrators accompany the canine officers
during the operation, Rodia said, and note the lockers identified  by
the dogs. The principal or security officer then opens the locker
after the police leave. In Shelton, on  sweeps in the past, police
have opened lockers and made  arrests after finding drugs, according
to police officials.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin