CANYON DRUG DOGS DESTINED FOR TV

National News Crew Focuses OnSheriff's K-9 Program

CALDWELL -- Canyon County drug dogs had a chance to sniff some
national television cameras this week -- and this spring they'll be
seen nationwide.

An ABC News crew was in Caldwell Monday and Tuesday to interview
Sheriff George Nourse and film drug dogs in action as they sniffed
vehicles for illegal drugs.

ABC News producer Ray Homer of Los Angeles declined comment on the
visit, saying he feared competitors would get wind of their coverage
and scoop them. The report may be aired in a month or two, he said.

The news network was aware of the program for about a year, since it
initially received national coverage, "even being on Paul Harvey,"
Nourse said.

The television crew wanted to know why he formed the drug dog program,
what it has accomplished and how he justified the tactic, Nourse said.

The sheriff said the program, formed last May to combat growing drug
use in the county, has been a success. County Prosecutor Dave Young
agreed.

"The sheriffs' K-9 units have had a strong impact in our drug case
load, which has increased about 50 percent over a year ago," Young
said.

Nourse cited a "tremendous amount of community support for the
program, noting that more than 400 county businesses have signed forms
allowing his K-9 units to come to their parking lots and sniff for
drugs." Motel and apartment owners especially have been "very keen"
on the program, he said.

People even have asked to have houses and used cars checked out before
they would move in or buy, he said.

The K-9 units target the drug user rather than the drug dealer because
"without the demand, there won't be any dealers," he said.

When Nourse announced his drug dog plans more than a year ago, Jack
Van Valkenburgh, executive director of the American Civil Liberties
Union of Idaho, objected. And that hasn't changed.

"We still see it as a violation of civil liberties and an open
question that the courts still have to resolve," Van Valkenburgh
said Tuesday.

"This is a precedent-setting effort that invades privacy rights to
the extent no law enforcement program has done before," he said.
"We can't bring an action without a complaint, and we haven't heard
from attorneys or individuals wanting our help in a challenge."