Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007
Source: Kitsap Sun (WA)
Copyright: 2007 Kitsap Sun
Contact:  http://www.kitsapsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4404
Author: Steven Gardner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

BREMERTON DRUG ARRESTS A 'WAKE-UP CALL'

School: Bremerton High Leaders, Parents And Students Say They're 
Feeling 'Devastated' By Tuesday's Police Raid

The Bremerton School District is planning to meet with community 
members following Tuesday's arrest of eight Bremerton High School 
students on drug and weapons charges.

Five of the arrests happened at school Tuesday after a two-month 
investigation in which officers said they were able to buy marijuana, 
Ecstasy and cocaine, as well as weapons.

Krista Carlson, district spokeswoman, said she hopes people don't 
rush to judgment. But she said the arrests should serve as a "wake-up call."

"This is a problem that happens in many schools. What we are doing is 
being very proactive," Carlson said. "This will not be tolerated in 
our school or in our district."

Bremerton High Principal Aaron Leavell declined to comment Wednesday, 
referring all questions to Carlson.

One of the students was holding cocaine during his arrest, according 
to a Bremerton Police press release. Another admitted to selling 
marijuana on the way to school and was carrying cash from the sale.

Bremerton police said the weapons were purchased on school district 
property, but not at the high school and not during school hours. 
None of the students had weapons on them when they were arrested.

Most of the drug purchases were within school zones or on district 
property, but not during school hours, police reported. Two of the 
students arrested are 18, while the rest are minors. Three 
nonstudents were also arrested recently, and six more arrests are 
pending, police said.

Bremerton Police's Special Operations Group labeled the investigation 
"Operation Pharmacy" after one student told police the high school 
was like a "pharmacy."

That's been the experience of Amanda Howard, a Bremerton High senior 
interviewed Wednesday.

"Everyone talks about it at Bremerton. It's not even secret there," she said.

Howard said many students hang out across the street from the school 
on church property, an area nicknamed "Smoker's Corner."

It's a place, she said, where drugs are readily available and fights 
among students are common.

Howard was joined at the Kitsap Mall on Wednesday by three South 
Kitsap High School friends, who said Bremerton High has a reputation 
for drug use.

"I've always heard of things going on around Bremerton," said Cayla 
Hawkins, a South Kitsap High senior.

Bremerton High students Josh Horst, a senior, and Marta Brown, a 
junior, said they were surprised by the arrests.

"I was just devastated," said Brown. "Some of the kids I wouldn't 
have expected to be involved."

Horst said fellow students were upset Wednesday -- not at authorities 
or other students, but that some of their classmates were gone.

Horst disputed the idea that Bremerton's problem is worse than other schools.

"It's not as bad as everyone thinks it is," he said.

Kimberley Smith, mother of a Bremerton High 10th-grader, said she 
doesn't think the school is secure enough. She said she's come onto 
campus several times and walked the halls without being asked who she is.

Smith was particularly concerned about the weapons arrests.

"This is just one incident," she said. "When you look at what's gone 
on in schools in the past few years, it does concern me because you 
do hear of people bringing guns to school and shooting children."

Carlson said other parents made calls to the district Wednesday and 
that district officials are working to arrange a community meeting to 
discuss the incident and what to do next.

"We believe that Bremerton High School is safe," she said. "It is sad 
that this had to happen.

"Now that we are aware of some of the problems, we can make it better."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman