DRUG DOGS TO CHECK SCHOOLS

St. Albert Decides

In the first program of its kind in Canada, RCMP officers and
dope-sniffing dogs will patrol St. Albert's Protestant and Catholic
schools in the upcoming school year.

On Wednesday St. Albert RCMP agreed to send random patrols through
schools run by St. Albert Protestant Schools and the Greater St.
Albert Catholic Regional Division.

"We want to make sure our schools are drug-free and students don't
indulge in illegal substances," said Protestant chairman Morag
Pansegrau. "We do not have a drug problem in our schools, but this has
been initiated by the RCMP to make sure young people lead appropriate
lifestyles."

Pansegrau said the cops first approached her about patrolling the
schools two years ago.

"It's the first school project of this type in Canada," she said,
adding that patrols will be "very random."

"I can't say how often they will happen," said Pansegrau. "It will be
an officer and a dog ... They will simply walk through the hallways.
If a student is found to be in possession of an illegal substance, the
principal will recommend expulsion (to the school board)."

Pansegrau added that criminal charges may be pressed if a student's
offence is considered especially serious.

"If RCMP find a sufficient amount of drugs to merit a charge of
trafficking, the full force of the law would come down," she said.

The patrols are part of an agreement signed Wednesday by the RCMP and
the school divisions. The two-year pilot project includes drug
awareness programs targeting students, staff and parents.

Lawyer Stephen Jenuth is not sure any of the random busts will stand
up in court.

"The police might find all their evidence is inadmissible," said
Jenuth, president of the Alberta Civil Liberties Association.

"If they're just going to do all this random searching, it strikes me
that we have too much money in the St. Albert RCMP and we should cut
their budget if they don't have anything better to do."