STUDENTS GET LESSON FROM POLICE, DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS

Hershey Elementary School teacher Allyson Paris recently noticed some of
her fourth-grade students asking questions about drugs.

She answered her students, along with 100 other Hershey fourth- graders,
Friday when she invited six officers from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's
Department, two of whom were drug- and bomb-sniffing K-9s.

"We study drugs as part of the health curriculum and I thought this was a
good opportunity for the students," Paris said.

Hershey is part of Tippecanoe School Corp., which is in the process of
reinstating its random drug testing policy. Parents have expressed concern
to TSC board members about emphasizing the consequences of drugs instead of
drug education, intervention and prevention.

The program held Friday in Hershey's cafeteria is one way TSC teaches
students about drugs.

"Law enforcement has changed over the years and this is one example of how
there is more education and prevention involved," said officer Jason Huber,
who brought along his partner, Billy, to demonstrate how K-9 units find
bombs and narcotics.

Students eagerly awaited the arrival of Billy and fellow K-9, Don, while
Sgt. Bob Brewer talked to the group about the character of people who sell
drugs.

"There are a lot of people out there who might want to sell you drugs,"
Brewer said. "They'll tell you they are your friends, but all they are
trying to do is get money out of you. They don't care about you."

Brewer asked kids to name types of drugs they are aware of. Cigarettes,
cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.

"When we think of drugs, we think of the bad ones," Brewer said. "But
prescription medicine can be just as bad for you and just as deadly. And
whoever said alcohol is right; the No. 1 killer of teen-agers in the United
States is alcohol."

Brewer also reviewed what students should do if someone offers them drugs,
if they find drugs or if they know of someone who uses them.

"Make sure you let somebody know, because the last thing we ever want to
do, the worst thing in the world that any of us would have to deal with, is
going to an accident where one of you is involved with drugs."