SNUFFING OUT DRUGS IN JAIL WITH A SNIFF

Dogs Used to Officially Perform Random Drug Searches in Provincial
Prisons

The drugs were planted, and Argo went right to work.

Within a matter of seconds the jet black, five-and-a-half year-old
German Shepherd sniffed out a small bag of marijuana wedged in the
cushion of a visitor room chair at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional
Centre Wednesday.

St. Paul Dog Handler Cpl. Barry Morrison took Argo for a walk around
the room to demonstrate how fast the K-9's keen sense of smell works.

When Argo located the package he didn't make a sound. He didn't bark.
He just silently sat down where the drugs were located and waited for
his treat.

The set-up demonstrated how trained dogs will sniff out drugs in
provincial jails under a new agreement with the RCMP- an agreement
which costs approximately $100,000 a year.

"This is another tool in the toolbox," said Solicitor General Heather
Forsyth who was on hand to make the announcement.

"It's something we've been working on for more than a year
now."

The searches will be completed by any one RCMP dog and a handler on a
random basis in the provincial facilities.

The move complements provisions made to the Corrections Amendment Act
in making tougher rules for prisoners in jail said Forsyth.

The provisions came into effect at the end of September
2003.

"It's important to keep our facilities drug free," Forsyth
said.

"I think drugs in all jails are a problem."

"We had dogs in before that were brought in from time to time, but it
wasn't

on a regular basis," said Fort Correctional Officer Don Westman. "They
were only brought in on an isolated basis, and there was limited
success. But that was quite some time ago. And if anything it worked
as a good deterrent."

Westman says anything done to combat the drug problem in jails has his
backing.

The dogs that are entering the prisons are trained to find all types
of narcotics.

"He's multi-trained," said Morrison. "(Argo) can react, he can track,
he can bite, and search."

Morrison has been a dog handler for 10 years, while he's worked with
Argo for the last four years.

"These dogs are so adaptable to any situation," he said. "That's why
German Shepherds are used-they can adapt to any climate, temperature,
or terrain."

The most recent scent Argo is capable of picking up is Crystal
Meth.

RCMP dogs are now in the process of being trained to find the
narcotic.

"When I trained (Argo), Crystal Meth was never a big problem but it
seems to be getting more prevalent," Morrison said, noting it's not
hard to train the K-9 to find meth.

"He already knows the command. It's just a matter of showing him one
more smell he can track down."

Westman said he hopes the introduction of dogs on a more frequent,
random basis will be a big help.

"I don't expect to see tangible results," he said. "I think it'll be
more of a tremendous deterrent."