DOG'S DUTY IS TO FIND DRUGS, EXPLOSIVES

Businessman Uses Canine To Find 'Killer' Substances

While the nation's attention is focused on anthrax and terrorism,
drugs take more lives, says Charlie Jones, whose business is drug
detection.

"The drug war has never quit - and drugs kill people every day," Jones said.

Jones is the owner of a Melbourne dealership of Detector Dogs Against
Drugs and Explosives, a private drug- and explosive-detection service
available for businesses, schools and homes.

Jones' dog, Jessie, a Labrador retriever, is trained to detect guns
and explosives, including, but not limited to, gunpowder,
firecrackers and bullets.

But Jones prefers to put the dog to work in drug detection.

"We got into the business to make a difference," Jones said. "Our
ultimate goal is to reduce drug use in the schools."

Jones said Jessie can sniff out marijuana, cocaine, heroin,
methadone, LSD and mescaline. Jessie currently is being trained to
detect four additional drugs: gamma hydroxbutyric acid or GHB,
methamphetamine, ecstasy and OxyCotin.

Recently, Jones was hired to put Jessie to work at singer Janet
Jackson's concert in Miami, doing security checks of the stage,
dressing rooms and hallways of the National Car Rental Center, where
the concert took place over two days last month.

"Hopefully, it leads to additional jobs," Jones said. "We didn't get
to meet Jackson, but they seemed happy with the job we did."

Detector Dogs Against Drugs and Explosives, more often referred to as
DDADE, is headquartered in the Washington, D.C., area, where the dogs
are trained.

According to the DDADE Web site, the training school for the dogs is
licensed by the United States Justice Department, Drug Enforcement
Agency and the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

DDADE President Russ Ebersole said the cost of buying a dealership is
$35,000, which covers the dog, a territory and certification.

"The price includes all the equipment and materials you need to start
the business," Ebersole said.

Jones, who has been in business since January 2000, charges $150 an
hour to sweep a typical house. He charges $75 an hour for schools and
medical facilities.

Jones makes a point of saying, "I am not law enforcement. We are
about detection and prevention."

When checking a home for drugs, "We leave the decision up to the
parent, as far as what to do if narcotics are found. We detect and
locate; we do not confiscate."

As far as Detective Jan Scofield of the Titusville Police Department
is concerned, the more people involved in the war on drugs the
better. Scofield runs the K-9 unit at the Titusville Police
Department. He also is a K-9 unit master trainer for the Northern
Police Work Dog Association.

"In Texas, most schools have a contract with a drug detection dog
service," Scofield said.

"I really believe that it's no problem for civilians to run a
business like this, as long as they are properly certified, trained
and licensed."

Jones is certified as a dog handler by DDADE, which is licensed by
the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and Jessie are required to be
recertified annually.

Jones' main source of income now comes from adult-entertainment
businesses, such as strip clubs.

"They are very concerned about keeping drugs out of their business,"
Jones said. "They want to keep everything legal and protect their
liquor license."

Derek Julian, manager of Bare Assets in West Melbourne, has hired
Jones to come in with Jessie for unannounced sweeps twice a month.

"It's going great," Julian said of the service. "We do it to prevent
drugs. And it's pretty much a visual deterrent because the employees
can see the dog examine the premises."

Jones wants to expand his detection business to include, among other
new clients, private schools.

He also has hopes of contracting with the Brevard County school
system to run random sweeps as a drug-prevention measure. Jones has
sent informational letters and cost estimates to the school board,
but has not had a formal meeting with officials.

Jack Sidoran, director of public safety for Brevard public schools,
said one reason the county does not contract out for this service is
cost, which Jones said he could perform for approximately $1 per
student based on the total number of students in the district.

"We have to prioritize the way our funds are spent," Sidoran said.
"Consequently, some things we would like to do, we just are not able
to do. The safety of the children is the highest priority, and a
complete study of any private company involved in such a contract
would need to be conducted."

"Early detection is the key to our program," Jones said. "We want to
find out who is using illegal substances and get them help before
they become a statistic and we want to detect explosives before they
could harm someone. Early detection is the key. After the fact its
too late."