DOG DRUG SEARCH TURNS UP PIPE; STUDENT SUSPENDED

Brookfield East principal: Most support effort toward drug-free school

BROOKFIELD - A male student at Brookfield East High School was suspended
from school Wednesday after a marijuana pipe was found in his locker
following a canine search of the school. School and police officials
declined to release any other identifying information about the student, but
Brookfield police Capt. Phil Horter said prosecution was certain.

"He's going to be charged for possession of paraphernalia," Horter said.
"Whether it's on a municipal level or a state level, I don't know."

A municipal charge would bring a citation against the boy. A state charge
would subject him to possible jail time and probation as well as a fine.

The search was conducted while students were locked in classrooms for a
longer-than-usual first hour class, said Principal Joe Schroeder. Four dogs
brought in by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and Elm Grove police
"hit" on 19 lockers, indicating a potential presence of drugs or contraband,
but only one locker contained anything illegal, Schroeder said.

Schroeder declined to discuss the length of the suspension imposed on the
boy, but said it was consistent with regular school policies. He added that
two prior canine searches of the school resulted in nothing.

Schroeder said the community is behind the effort to monitor the presence of
drugs in the school.

"I think our students reacted positively. We have done this before in our
district and I think they understand the goal we are trying to reach, and
that is working towards being a drug- and alcohol-free school," he said. "I
sense a lot of cooperation and understanding, and the same thing from
parents we talk to."

Horter added that a similar search done at Brookfield Central High School on
Tuesday also yielded negative results, although the dogs hit on about 12
lockers.

"I'd say it's unfortunate that a violation was located (at East) and of
course the ultimate goal of ours would be complete compliance with the law.
But, at the same time, we understand our responsibilities and are more than
happy to work with the school district to ensure a safe learning
environment," Horter said.

East senior Kelly Lam was sick at home when Wednesday's search occurred. But
she was present for a search last year and said she believes that the
searches reassure students concerned about drugs in school.

"As a student you feel safer knowing drugs are not around school, but yet
you kind of feel your rights were violated," she said. "It kind of makes me
feel uncomfortable locked in a room, but it's a safety issue that has to be
done. I think it's for the better and I don't think there's much wrong with
it."

Lam said she doubted that the searches would deter students intent on
bringing drugs to school. But she added it was "disappointing" to see a
student get caught with drug paraphernalia because students do not expect to
find that in school.

"It's a little out of the ordinary," she said.