A NOSE FOR DRUGS

Moorpark High crackdown on illegal drugs on campus includes use of police dogs.

Moorpark High School got its first canine sniff-out of the year on Tuesday.

Four Ventura County Sheriff's Department dogs sniffed through locker pods,
classrooms and cars in search of illicit drugs -- but to no avail.

"No illegal substances were recovered. But it's something that needs to be
done more regularly," said Juan Ponce, campus police officer. "It has two
effects. The dogs get training in a different environment and it acts as a
deterrent for kids who have drugs in their lockers."

After hearing from a student focus group on substance abuse earlier this
year, school officials decided the best way to eliminate drugs on campus
was through random checks, said Principal Anna Merriman.

Merriman said five or six students have been caught on campus this year
with drugs, mostly marijuana.

School officials decided to allow the dogs to sniff the classrooms so they
could check backpacks and other areas.

"Students have been changing the drugs from their lockers to their vehicles
or carrying it on them," Ponce said. "Now we have the students step out of
the classroom so the dogs can check out the backpacks. If they hit on
something, we talk to the student before we search the backpack."

Any student caught with illegal substances will be arrested and any student
suspected of carrying narcotics will be questioned. A courtesy call is also
placed to parents of students questioned by campus police.

"We have heard loud and clear that, unfortunately, illegal substances are
on the campus and students are abusing them," Merriman said. "We need to do
a better job helping get rid of them. This is one way to do that."