SURVEYS SHOW LOW USE, BUT 15 POLICE DOGS CONDUCT DRUG SEARCH

Targeting Drugs And Rumors: Surveys Show Low Use Compared To Other
Schools, But 15 Police Dogs Conduct Drug Search

Police officers with 15 drug-sniffing dogs searched Andover High
School Friday morning, Oct. 24, as part of a surprise exercise that
Principal Peter Anderson says was meant to stop rumors there is a drug
problem at the school.

But that doesn't mean police are finished arresting students they
believe are using or sharing drugs on school property. On Monday, Oct.
27 - the first school day after the huge drug sweep - an officer
believed he saw an exchange made during lunchtime in the Andover High
School parking lot that resulted in an arrest and charge of marijuana
possession for a 16-year-old student.

Anderson said he and police Chief Brian Pattullo had talked about
conducting Friday's drug search for several months.

"Both of us are tired of hearing rumors, innuendo and gossip that
there are great numbers of students using drugs at the high school
campus. We were both growing weary about those kind of reports," said
Anderson. "We found our theory to be correct."

Marijuana was found in one student's car, outside of the high school
on Friday, leading to the student's arrest and a charge of possession
of a class D drug with intent to distribute, said Andover police Lt.
Commander James Hashem. One other student faced disciplinary measures
this week after dogs found a small amount of marijuana in a locker
Friday.

"It was such a small amount that police declined to do anything about
it," said Anderson of the locker contraband.

"I would characterize the search as being very successful, in that we
found very little evidence and very little quantity of drugs in the
school," said Hashem. "It yielded a small amount of marijuana in the
school, and additionally in a car (outside in the parking lot).

"We wanted to send the message that this kind of activity doesn't
belong in the school. There's been a lot of talk about (drugs); we and
the school had been hearing talk and discussion about drug activity.
We felt this was one way to act upon these rumors, to see what was
there through a search," said Hashem.

Noting nearly 99 percent of last year's graduating class is continuing
its education, Anderson said he wished more people in the community
would recognize the type of youth it has. While he said he cannot
speak about the extent of drug use "at 11 p.m. on Saturday night," he
said he does not believe there is a drug problem during school hours
on campus.

Surveys of students indicate about one quarter of juniors use
marijuana on a monthly basis (see sidebar, page 1).

"I think Andover High students, and other students, oftentimes are
judged with a degree of suspicion, and they don't deserve that kind of
judgment," said Anderson.

Roughly 10 officers from the Andover police were involved in the
90-minute search, which began a little after 9 a.m. on Oct. 24, said
Hashem. The "specialized canines" and their handlers came from police
departments from Andover and surrounding towns as well as the Essex,
Middlesex and Suffolk counties sheriffs departments. The dogs sniffed
lockers, 20 classrooms and vehicles in the parking lot. Anderson said
he explained to students the intent of the exercise.

"We didn't have a list of kids we were trying to target," said
Anderson.

The school was split up evenly, said Anderson, and two or three
classrooms were searched on each hallway in Andover High School's two
floors. They tried to vary between lower and upperclassmen courses,
and avoided rooms that would have fumes that would throw off the dogs,
such as art or science rooms.

For the search, students were asked to leave the classroom and line up
in the hall. Diane Costagliola, a co-president of the Parent Advisory
Council at AHS, said the issue of drug use is discussed among PAC
members, and they've talked about it with police at their meetings.

"The search proved that there is no major problem (at AHS). The
administration has a lot of faith in students and the teachers, and I
think they did something that was appropriate," said Costagliola.
"When you're dealing with high school, and teenagers, the reality of
the situation is that there's going to be a certain subculture, per
se, that unfortunately includes drug use or alcohol. I don't think
parents keep their heads in the sand (about drug use). It doesn't mean
you don't talk about it.

"The PAC has received a few e-mails about it (the search), I've talked
with parents, and we've heard nothing but positive feedback, support
for Anderson and the police and support for what went on on Friday,"
she said.

The search followed a weekend during which Andover Police arrested 10
young adults "for various drug charges, including distribution. Six of
those arrests were Andover students," said Hashem. "Based on the
arrests, there is substantial drug activity, but it does not appear to
be in the high school."

Dave Nichols, who retired in June after 32 years in Andover schools
and ten as the district's health-education director, attributes the
low use of drugs at AHS to good parenting, a wealth of
extra-curricular activities, strong health education and that
"students are genuinely afraid of getting caught (with drugs) at AHS."

"Most risk behaviors are relatively low at the high school (compared
with other schools in the state) ... I think that Andover doesn't hide
their head in the sand, when there's a problem. I think that was
evident in the search (on Friday). It's a real credit to the school
system, I believe, that 1,700 kids (were searched at AHS), with one
arrest. As a community, Andover can be proud of that, but at the same
time, stay cautious and still vigilant," said Nichols.

"I agree with Peter Anderson, and feel they do a great job at Andover
High School. But (drugs) are something we have to be concerned about.
It's not something you want to let your guard down, no matter how
you're doing, and I think Peter knows that. He wanted to dispel the
myth that drugs were being passed around in the school. It proves a
point and send a message to students. I applaud Peter for what he did.
I think it's an intelligent move. Instead of having theories about
things, let's know and have discussion about it. I think it's great
that he takes action."