DRUG SEARCHES

Rules Must Protect US From False Accusations

David Shapiro's support of drug-dog searches in public schools
(Volcanic Ash, Oct. 10) is based upon one very important flaw - a
belief that only the guilty are accused and prosecuted.

He fails to address what will happen to the student whose locker is
found to contain contraband, but had nothing to do with putting it
there. As we who attended public schools know, all lockers have vent
holes, and we have all had unpleasant things pushed into our lockers
by other students.

Mr. Shapiro suffers from the same misconception that many in the
public do, that if one is truly innocent then the system will exonerate you.

The protection that our Constitution gives us is not just there to
protect criminals from being investigated or prosecuted, but also to
protect those who are innocent from being falsely accused.

William M. Bento

'Ewa Beach