EDMONTON MAX BOASTS NATION'S FIRST CORRECTIONAL OFFICER WITH DARE

One of the most unique and interesting individuals that the Fort Record met
during our time inside the Edmonton Institution was Mark Nault.

A long time Correctional Officer Nault is very active in the community
because of the brief time periods that he and his partner Zak, a three year
old Labrador 'drug sniffing' or narcotics detection dog.

Nault and his partner act as part of the screening process for any and all
visitors to the Edmonton Institution.

The Fort Record had first hand experience at seeing Zak in action and
needless to say we were impressed.

"The Correctional Services Canada in support of Canada's National Drug
Strategy has a zero tolerance to drugs and drugs trafficking. consequently
anyone who is caught bringing drugs into our Institution will be charged
with trafficking," said Nault.

On the direction of Nault and the media liaison assigned to the Fort Record
we participated in a practice or demonstration of Zak's abilities.

Nault planted a small quantity of narcotics within an article of clothing.

After passing through incredibly precise and high tech screening which did
not detect the narcotics Zak's sense of smell sought out the drugs and
proceeded to indicate to Nault that there were drugs present.

Nault and Zak are unique amongst the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)
in that Nault is the only known DARE officer in the CSC. "I read an article
in the Morinville Mirror with Constable Laurel Kating, of the Morinville
RCMP. She was saying that their office was short DARE officers. Their
officers were having to work shifts until midnight and then come in to
teach DARE. There was also a number of schools that did not have DARE
Officers so consequently they did not have DARE. Because of the flexibility
of hours with the drug dog position. Myself and Mike Langlauer made a
proposal as part of our mandated service to do some community education.
DARE falls under that mandate and it was very well received and they
thought it was an excellent way to show what the Correctional facilities do
offer with regards to community programs. As a result, approximately two
years ago I went to RCMP K Division and took the DARE Officer's initial
training program"

Nault has spent several years and countless hours teaching the program to
students and because he has corrections experience he approaches the course
material in a somewhat different manner.

"It's been very positive working with DARE because we can provide a
uniquely distinct and different approach to the DARE program because we
come from a correctional background. We can explain what happens to an
individual after the arrest, where police officers can talk about the
lifestyle of drug users. I can ,on the other hand, talk about what happens
to drug users after and what the long term effects are on some of our
offenders," said Nault. "I rely heavily on the local RCMP for media and
video resources but I also stick to the seventeen week DARE program and the
curriculum. At times as a bonus for the kids we will sometimes bring in
Zak. The schools definitely like the fact that they can at times use the
dog as a deterrent but we do not use the dog for operational searches
within the schools".

Nault currently teaches DARE only at a Grade Six level in Morinville. The
Fort Record wondered if he has any plans to expand the DARE program in that
area to include a high school component.

"At present, we are having a hard time maintaining the program at the Grade
Six level, so we have no plans to expand it to any other levels. Constable
Helen Meinzinger at the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP was one of my mentors during
my DARE training and she has done one heck of a job getting the full DARE
program into the schools. If nothing else, we hope that the DARE program
opens up dialogue between students and their teachers and most importantly
students and their parents. And also it allows us to send children forward
with the tools as well as a bit better education".