K-9 UNIT SNIFFS FOR DRUGS AT SCHOOLS

Richmond County Officers Take Police Dogs On Surprise Search For Narcotics
On Local Campuses

The sign outside the Butler High School gymnasium declares the area
''Bulldog Country.'' But Friday morning, the parking lot and grounds of the
Lumpkin Road high school were K-9 territory.

Bruno and Sjifke, two of the Richmond County Sheriff's Department's police
dogs, sniffed, scratched and searched the cars and trucks parked on school
grounds. The dogs are trained to detect seven odors, including those of
marijuana and cocaine.

No drugs turned up in the search of Butler High School, and that is good
news to Richmond County school officials.

Partnered with the Richmond County Board of Education's public safety
department, the K-9 unit searched parking lots at Butler, Lucy C. Laney
High School and the Academy of Richmond County.

It's the second year drug-sniffing dogs have been used at area schools.
Last year, the service resulted in dozens of seizures and arrests,
including one on a felony charge.

''We feel it's been pretty successful,'' said Sgt. John Gray of the
sheriff's department as the dogs patrolled a parking lot.

School Public Safety Chief Julia Stein said the K-9 unit has been helpful.

''In the areas where we don't have the resources, we combine with the
sheriff's department and it has been most effective,'' Chief Stein said.
''Our goal is to secure the safety of the students, and this is one way we
can do that.''

Eddie Lyell, a public safety officer assigned to Butler High School, said
the dogs show up unannounced at the school, keeping students on their toes
and serving as a deterrent for drug dealers.

''We're proactive,'' Officer Lyell said. ''They know we're searching; they
know we'll find drugs (if students bring them to school), and so it cuts
down on the numbers of kids willing to take the chance. That helps us with
our goal of maintaining a safe, drug-free environment for our students to
learn in.''

On a first offense, a student caught with drugs is sentenced to alternative
school for one semester and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,
Officer Lyell said.

On a second offense, the student goes before a tribunal hearing of school
officials and faces expulsion, he said.

Reach Justin Martin at (706) 823-3552.