Pubdate: Sat, 28 Apr 2007
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Bruce Owen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS IN CITY SCHOOLS DEMANDED

A drug case implicating three south Winnipeg high schools has renewed 
calls for drug-sniffing dogs to catch kids selling drugs in city schools.

Angry parents who contacted the Free Press on Friday said school 
officials could do more to get drugs out of their children's schools 
instead of taking a softer approach that education is better than punishment.

"Why a superintendent or school principal wouldn't want better 
conditions for students is hard to understand," one father said. 
"Some of these people have their heads in the sand."

The parents said they did not want to be identified because they did 
not want their comments to hurt their children.

They said their kids tell them it's no secret that street drugs are 
available for sale in their schools and that dealers are easy to 
find. The problem is getting school officials to do something 
meaningful to deter those responsible, they said.

Their comments follow the recent arrests of three men in Charleswood 
for allegedly running a crack cocaine "dial-a-dealer" operation that 
catered to students at Oak Park High School, Shaftesbury High School 
and St. Paul's High School.

In the past, school divisions in Winnipeg have discussed using a dog 
to search lockers or classrooms if there are grounds to believe drugs 
are stashed on the premises.

But the divisions have decided dog searches are too intrusive. They 
have also said school officials have the right to search a student's 
locker, with the student present, if there are grounds to believe the 
student may be hiding drugs or other material, like pornography, that 
threaten school safety and discipline.

School officials in Brandon took the exact opposite stance.

Brandon School Division superintendent Dr. Donna Michaels said a 
specially trained dog has searched three high schools and one 
elementary school in the division over the past year. Crystal 
methamphetamine and marijuana have been found.

"Kids don't get a heads-up," she said.

The dog search is done only if staff have reasonable grounds to 
believe drugs will be found. Drugs found by the dog are given to 
police for destruction. School officials and the students' parents 
handle the punishment.

"Our goal is to keep our schools as drug-free as possible," Michaels 
said. "Our parents and students expect safe and secure schools."

The dog that does all the searches -- his name is Billy -- is handled 
by private investigation company Rogue Crew Investigations.

Jeff Bellingham of Rogue Crew Investigations has said he has several 
clients besides the Brandon School Division in western Manitoba, but 
that confidentiality agreements prevent him from talking about his work.

Bellingham is a retired police drug investigator with the Winnipeg 
Police Service. Billy, a Belgian Malinois, is trained to American 
Drug Enforcement Agency standards.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman