Deterring Crime The Right Way

DRUG SEARCHES HELP KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE

Cindy Smith can't forget the images of Goose Creek police storming
the halls of Stratford High nearly three years ago, forcing students
to lie face down on the floor while dogs sniffed their book bags and
the students themselves.

Her daughters don't attend the school, but the Lexington County
mother of two high school students joins thousands of S.C. parents
who rely on school resource officers and administrators to keep
their children's schools safe and drug free.

Nobody, officials said, wants a repeat of Stratford High.

A poll of Midlands school districts showed little has changed since
the Stratford drug raid.

But that's because officials were already careful.

"You've got to use some common sense when you're using search and
seizure," said Bill Gummerson, Lexington 3 superintendent.

"We don't want the drug dogs sniffing children."

School officials say the searches serve more as a deterrent.

For example, more than 100 drug inspections were done in Lexington
County middle and high schools over a two-year period. Only two
arrests were made.

"I would consider that a success," said Dean Hatchell, president of
S.C. Police K-9 Association.

"It validates that the hard work that the administration is putting
in is working."

Last week, Roco, a 10-year-old black Labrador retriever, patrolled
the empty halls of Irmo Middle School polishing his drug-finding
technique at a South Carolina Police K-9 Association training session.

The Lexington County police service dog kept his nose buried in
every corner and pressed against every locker looking for evidence
of Ecstasy, heroin and marijuana.

His ears weren't back in agitation, and there was no deep, throaty
growl as he searched.

Instead, his tail wagged, and when he locked on the scent of 400
Ecstasy pills, he was handsomely rewarded with his red squeaky toy.

Although school wasn't in session, there's little difference between
Roco's practice run and an actual search, Hatchell said.

The handlers are with them at all times, and the dogs don't come in
contact with students.

The K-9 association, he said, aims to promote a high level of
professionalism for handlers and the dogs.

By law, everything is subject to a search when a person walks into a
school building.

That means a student's book bag, locker and car are within an
administrator's rights to search.

In addition to detecting illegal drugs, Richland County and North
Charleston sheriff's departments are among the agencies that have
trained dogs to detect gunpowder.

Hatchell said he's certain parents understand that police service
dogs and police officers are working toward a safe environment.

"People in South Carolina need to feel comfortable when their kids
are in school."