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. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin