DRUG-SNIFFING DOG JIMMY ENTHRALLS OCEANSIDE KIDS

OCEANSIDE -- While his partner, Senior Border Patrol Agent Bill Kocan,
addressed an attentive group of youngsters, Jimmy lay on the floor,
vigorously chewing a rubber toy.

And the children called that behavior "really cool."

In fact, the youngsters at the San Luis Rey Police and Resource Center in
the Mesa Margarita neighborhood here yesterday were absolutely enthralled
by Jimmy, asking how old he is, how hard he works every day, what he eats
and even where he sleeps.

He's 8. He works long hours, eats somewhat sparingly to keep fit -- though
he loves a good steak once in a while -- and he sleeps either in his bed at
the foot of Kocan's bed or outdoors. The choice is his.

The center is part of an all-out effort by the Police Department and the
community to turn young people in the troubled neighborhood at the back
gate of Camp Pendleton away from drugs and gangs prevalent in the area.

Joanne Rush, director of the center, said it tries to provide a special
activity or field trip at least four times a year.

The youngsters in the after-school program yesterday also wanted to know
what kind of a dog Jimmy is. The answer is a Belgian shepherd, one that
cost $4,000 to acquire and train.

And trained he is.

In almost seven years with the Border Patrol, Kocan said, Jimmy has sniffed
out $11 million worth of drugs: two tons of marijuana, 150 pounds of
cocaine, 120 pounds of methamphetamine and three pounds of heroin.

"It's all fun for the dog," Kocan told the children.

Oceanside police officers Dan Sullivan and Chris Carnahan set up Kocan's
demonstration with Jimmy, and about three dozen children were on hand for
the show.

They loved it when Jimmy went right to a desk drawer in which Kocan had
hidden a tiny amount of marijuana. And they were even more excited when
Jimmy found 8-year-old volunteer Joey Bailey secreted in a cabinet in
another room.

Afterward, Kocan said he feels it is important that youngsters realize the
Border Patrol is not "a green-clad Gestapo."

He seemed to accomplish his purpose.

"I think that he was nice," said Andra Toluao, 9.

Nick Kitchen, also 9, agreed.

"It was good how they found the boy," he added.

Copyright 1998 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.