Pubdate: Sun, 22 May 2005
Source: Daily Breeze (CA)
Copyright: 2005 The Copley Press Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailybreeze.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/881
Author: Ian Hanigan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DRUG-SNIFFING DOG IS SHUT OUT

Torrance's South High School principal points out that not finding illegal 
narcotics during the trial run was a good thing.

The Torrance school district has unveiled a new weapon in its fight against 
drugs on campus.

Here's a hint: The one used last week at South High School is black and 
brown, has four legs and answers to Hero.

Marking a first for the Torrance Unified School District, educators teamed 
up with local police Wednesday to bring a drug-sniffing dog to South High. 
The visit, considered a successful trial run by school officials, offered a 
sneak preview of what's to come.

Students at all four district high schools should expect the occasional 
spot visit from a police dog starting next year, Torrance schools 
Superintendent Steven Fish said.

"I think it's a great deterrent," he said. "Obviously, we hope we don't 
find anything. But, on the other hand, I want the kids to know that I'm 
going to look."

Citing 87 drug-related expulsions over four years, the Torrance school 
board amended its policy on March 21 to allow the searches of book bags, 
purses and other belongings. Assistant Superintendent John Schmitt said a 
final decision was made after several talks with receptive PTAs, school 
site councils, parents and students.

"The majority of our expulsions are for drug-related issues," Schmitt said 
Thursday. "Looking at that particular problem, we thought, what can we do?"

Enter Hero.

While the trained 7-year-old German shepherd didn't sniff out any illegal 
drugs at South on Wednesday, he did locate some prescription medication -- 
this is a no-no unless a parent secures permission from the office -- and 
some bottle rockets, which are banned explosives, Principal Scott McDowell 
said.

Students at South knew a dog was coming, they just didn't know when. Hours 
after the search was over, McDowell said he was pleased Hero didn't produce 
anything more serious.

"The fact that we came up with nothing is a good sign," he said.

"The day was perfect," McDowell added. "It was exactly what we wanted it to 
be. We want it to be a deterrent. We want the kids to know that the dogs 
could be coming at any time."

The Manhattan Beach school district considered using a similar deterrent in 
2003. But three board members voted against it, fearing the dogs could 
expose the district to lawsuits and disrupt the learning environment.

Back then, the American Civil Liberties Union also voiced opposition to the 
use of drug-sniffing dogs at public schools on the grounds that they 
violated the constitutional prohibition against unlawful searches and seizures.

Two years later, a spokeswoman for the ACLU of Southern California said she 
didn't expect her organization to object to Torrance's newly adopted plan, 
which directs teens to the library while their possessions are searched.

"Because the students aren't in the room, it changes the context a little 
bit," spokeswoman Elizabeth Brennan said.

According to Principal McDowell, Hero visited six randomly selected classes 
at South during a well-orchestrated third period.

Students were asked to leave their belongings behind as they were escorted 
to the library, where a school resource officer was on hand to answer 
questions. Hero and his prominent nose swept in behind them, sniffing 
backpacks and handbags for about five minutes under the direction of his 
handler, officer Jason McDonald.

Hero also checked a bank of lockers. But, as spelled out in board policy, 
he was not allowed to directly sniff students.

Lt. Brad Wilson of the Torrance Police Department said Hero is trained to 
smell drugs including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin. He's 
also skilled at using the scent of crime suspects to track down guns or 
knives that may have been ditched before an arrest.

As for how he found the bottle rockets, that's somewhat of a mystery.

Wilson said Hero paid particular interest to one backpack, but nothing 
incriminating was found inside.

So officials went to the student's locker, where they discovered the 
illegal fireworks. (One theory is that Hero detected some gunpowder residue 
in the pack.)

According to the policy change approved in March, Torrance is anticipating 
four or five unannounced searches in the 2005-06 school year, but probably 
not by Hero. Wilson said the German shepherd will retire July 9 after five 
years in law enforcement; another police dog will be trained to take his place.

How do students feel about the dogs?

Matthew Broatch, 16, wasn't among those sent to the library on Wednesday. 
But, he said, he doesn't have a problem with the searches.

"I think it's a good idea," he said. "It breaks up the day if you do get 
searched, and I don't have anything on me."

The sophomore said a drug-sniffing dog wouldn't make him feel any safer, 
however, because he doesn't feel threatened by students with drugs. 
Nevertheless, he said having a dog like Hero around may offer some 
entertainment.

"It's always fun to see other people get busted," he said.

Senior Patti Szopinski was less enthusiastic about the plan. Not only are 
drug-sniffing dogs an invasion of student privacy, she said, they create an 
atmosphere of fear and mistrust that doesn't belong on a high school campus.

"Good kids who don't do drugs, they shouldn't be scared and they shouldn't 
have to feel threatened," said Szopinski, 18.

But freshman Max Gonzales said he wouldn't mind a search. He said teens who 
aren't bringing drugs or weapons to class need not worry about a dog nosing 
around their belongings.

"They can sniff me all they want; they ain't gonna find nothing," quipped 
Gonzales, 15.
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