DRUG DOG SWEEP AT HIGH SCHOOL?

PORTSMOUTH - With a handful of high profile student drug arrests this
year, the School Board and Police Commission met Monday to discuss
police presence at city schools.

The group met in non-public session with City Attorney Bob Sullivan
and Assistant City Attorney Kathleen Dwyer to talk about police
involvement and drug enforcement, Sullivan said. The meeting was
initiated by the Police Commission.

"There may be policy changes which arise from this discussion,"
Sullivan said, before adding that he could not elaborate because it
was a nonpublic meeting. He said any changes would have to be
approved at subsequent public meetings.

The school and police departments currently have a memorandum of
understanding that describes "collaborative efforts to provide a safe
and healthy school environment." It outlines school employees'
requirements to notify police if they witness or receive information
about a crime in or around school property, such as theft, assault,
illegal sale or possession of drugs, and unlawful use of firearms.

Before the meeting, Police Chief Michael Magnant said police have
made "great strides" with the school resource officer program, but
there is more that could be done to prevent student use of alcohol and drugs.

"I think a big thing we're going to be talking about is expanding the
use of the canines," he said, referring to police drug-sniffing dogs.

More than a year ago, police dogs searched Portsmouth High School and
student backpacks during a drug sweep. Magnant said the sweep did
not find anything, but he thinks periodic searches deter students
from bringing drugs to school.

Magnant said police have "several times" offered to do another drug
sweep, but said the School Board is still thinking about it.

Following Monday's meeting, board Chairman Kent LaPage said he could
not comment on the drug-dog issue.

Last week, Police Commission Chairman Jack Kelley said recent drug
arrests at the high school are "only the tip of the iceberg." He said
better collaboration between police and schools is needed, as well as
community education about teenage drug use and police rights on school grounds.

"I think maybe there was a feeling that some parents are very
resistant about having police getting involved with the children and
schools," he said.

Both Kelley and LaPage agreed that both bodies should take another
look at police and school policies, but would not say which specific
rules might be re-evaluated.

"We have all agreed in principle," Kelley said. "We need greater
unification of policy. It will all come together in the near future."