SEARCH SCHOOLS FOR DOPE: PARENTS

But That's Illegal, Police Respond

Miles Macdonell principal Garry Bowles does not want random police and
dog searches for drugs in his school.

Police officers and drug-sniffing dogs should be able to randomly
search student lockers in all Manitoba public schools, say parents who
are fed up with a growing drug problem.

But police say the searches would be illegal.

"Why are kids allowed to walk around in high schools with backpacks
that could have weapons, carry their drugs, that kind of stuff. I
mean, come on," said Mona Mackay, a Kildonan-area parent.

"Why can't we as a parent say yes, you can check the lockers. In fact,
we should have a policy that allows random checks and (let the police)
bring in the dogs."

Mackay's suggestion was met with loud applause from other parents
attending a community forum on crystal meth held at the North Kildonan
Community Centre last week.

Ron Trakalo, a long-standing member of the Winnipeg Police Service who
sat on the panel, said police face restrictions when trying to bust
students who are peddling drugs in public schools.

"I'll tell you, there are drugs in every high school in the city. I've
dealt with a lot of schools, brought in a drug dog into the school,
searched lockers. But we need a search warrant," said Trakalo. "As a
police officer that's where our hands are tied. We have to follow
certain rules under the Criminal Code, and everyone has rights."

MUST HAVE A REASON

Most school divisions in Winnipeg have a policy allowing school
administrators to search lockers, backpacks, pockets and even cars
parked on school lots if there's reason to suspect drugs or weapons.

None of the school divisions interviewed by the Sun, which included
River East Transcona and Winnipeg School Division, allow random searches.

"We can't just decide to do a search without having a reason to do
it," said John Carlyle, superintendent at River East Transcona School
Division.

Police also need probable cause or a warrant before searching
students' lockers.

Garry Bowles, principal at Miles Macdonell Collegiate, said the policy
is effective and he doesn't advocate the use of arbitrary police and
dog searches.

"I don't want to be in schools where we have metal detectors and
police with dogs walking around. Then it becomes like an institution,"
said Bowles.

Mackay insists the growing drug problem warrants extreme
action.

She challenged the education minister to change legislation that would
allow police to do random locker searches and bring in the
drug-sniffing dogs into the schools without a warrant.

"It's almost a no-brainer. We pay government money to these schools,
it should be mandatory," said Mackay. "Put your foot down."

Education Minister Peter Bjornson said the matter is out of his
hands.

"It's a charter issue and a Supreme Court decision. I can't change
that," said Bjornson. "There have been occasions where drug dogs have
been brought in, but that's only when there's been reasonable grounds."