Drug sniffing dogs visit Douglas High School


Published/Last Modified on Monday, September 22, 2008 10:40 AM MDT


Eight drug-sniffing dogs along with handlers and law enforcement representatives from the Department of Public Safety and Douglas Police Department were on hand on Thursday, September 18, during a lockdown of the Douglas High School campus.


DPS drug sniffing dogs were dispatched to classrooms throughout Douglas High School searching for drugs. The dogs sniffed through every item in the classrooms including desks, bookshelves and backpacks.

The DPS units swept two thirds of the classrooms, the gymnasium and lockers and the parking lot. While there was some initial “hits” in some locations, no drugs were found on campus.

The lockdown followed weeks of planning,

The use of the dogs and general search for drugs in the schools reflects the District’s commitment to removing and keeping drugs off school campuses,” said Superintendent Earl Petit.

In the past year, there have been 35 cases of drug possession or influence by students including 3 cases of distribution on campus prompting Pettit to implement steps in order to create a drug-free environment at school. Most of these previous cases have involved Marijuana.

At 8:35 am Thursday, Douglas High School went into lock down as several dogs and their handlers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety aided by Douglas Police began their search of the campus and parking area.

“The purpose of this action is to deter the possession or use of drugs on campus,” said Pettit. “DUSD is committed to providing a safe, drug-free, environment for learning.” Any person found to be in possession of a controlled substance will be handled according to the school’s discipline policy and referred to police for criminal charges.

The sweep took about 40 minutes.

Cases involving Alcohol and Drugs during the 2007-2008 school year at Douglas High School:

√ Alcohol:    1

√ Under Influence of Drugs (Marijuana):     20

√ Possession of Controlled Substance:     7

√ Distribution of Controlled Substance:     3

√ Possession of Drug Paraphernalia:     8

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    ConcernedForDHSparent wrote on Sep 29, 2008 12:00 PM:

    " I strongly believe that there is a problem of drug substances at DHS. But you either solve the problem or become part of it and these scare tactics do nothing but motivate teenagers to rebel. What I am saying is that, as a parent, do you feel that your drug free child be punished or interrupted for drills that should be in use of real emergencies? There is obviously lack of drug education to Douglas teenagers, I mean look at your drug abuse, pregnancy, and std statistics. Hopefully you read this as a proactive approach to have the people InTheSchoolAdministrationDevelopProgramsForTeenagersToHaveAMorePositiveApproachtoSchoolAndLifeIfYouWouldDoSomeResearchHasShownThatEducationonDrugsandSexualBehaviorDecreaseTheStatisticsYoureRightAboutOtherSchoolsLookingLikePrisonsDoesDHSWantToBeOne? "

    DOUGLAS RESIDENT STUDENT wrote on Sep 29, 2008 9:34 AM:

    " HEY MR.GET OVER IT, YOU SAY WE SHOULD TAKE A STUDENT PRISON AND LET THE REST GET AN EDUCATION NICE THINKING BUT WE ALREADY ARE IN A PRISON. WE HAVE UNNECESSARY ID TAGS THAT ARE EASY TO MAKE FAKE ONES. SCHOOL SECURITY IS A BUNCH OF OLD GUYS THAT CANT EVEN WALK FAST LET ALONE RUN. THE SCHOOL PARKING SECURITY DOESN'T EVEN CHECK THE CAR IVE SEEN STUDENTS COME OUT OF THE TRUNK OF CARS BECAUSE THEY DONT HAVE THERE ID CARDS. THIS DOG THING IS WORTHLESS THEY DIDNT EVEN CHECK THE STUDENTS JUST THE EMPTY ROOMS. "

    Get over it wrote on Sep 26, 2008 1:21 AM:

    " You people need to get over the fact that High school students need to be treated like this! they think they know everything. Keep up the good work and keep the "drugies" scared. So the rest of the students can learn and get an education while the rest are put in prison! "

    FLUFFY wrote on Sep 25, 2008 1:12 PM:

    " THE DRILL WAS VERY STUPID AND A WASTE OF TIME BECUASE IF THE SCHOOL THINKS THEY SCARED THE PEOPLE FROM BRINING DRUGS TO SCHOOL THEY ARE WRONG ALL THEY DID WAS MAKE STUDENTS FIND A NEW WAY TO BRING THE DRUGS ONTO CAMPUS AND I BET THAT THEY WONT FOLLOW UP WITH ANOTHER DRILL FOR AT LEAST A FEW MONTHS WHEN IF THEY REALLY WANT TO IMPOSE AN IMPACT THEY SHOULD DO IT MORE OFTEN! OH YEAH AND SEBASTIAN I TOLD YOU TO STOP TRYING TO GIVE ME YOUR TEDDY BEAR I TOLD YOU I DONT WANT IT!! =/ ! "

    DHS parent wrote on Sep 24, 2008 4:20 PM:

    " Talk about ignorance. The lockdowns are safety procedures that have to take place for every school. They happen every year to teach both students and staff what to do in case of a real emergency. As to the "concerned for DHS", I don't know how many schools you have visited lately, but there are many schools fenced in, that have metal detectors and have security. And Student, parents shouldn't be notified because you are performing a drill as close to reality as possible. You will never know when and if something is going to happen. "

    Panfila wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:36 PM:

    " We sould be more concerned with the teachers instead of the students. I have heard from several students that some of the teachers are the ones under the influence. "

    someone wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:40 AM:

    " i thought that they founded drugs in a classroom and a teacher had the drugs "

    ed wrote on Sep 22, 2008 6:45 PM:

    " its about time we became proactive in the war against drugs in our schools. Bravo to the Board and Administration for taking the initiative. This is only the tip of the iceberg in this arena.
    Keep the pressure on. "

    ConcernedForDHS wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:58 PM:

    " This is such an inappropriate practice to scare students. How dare this obviously lack of experience, intimidating, antiquated administration believe this is a solution to solve the problem at hand. It is pretty much obvious that there is lack of education on drugs. On my last visit to Douglas, I confused the school for a prison. I understand that there has to be safety measures to keep other students safe, but this is the most appalling attempt I've seen. I feel sorry for those kids, they really need leadership there ,not prison guards. "

    dhs student wrote on Sep 22, 2008 1:16 PM:

    " students were put on lockdown not knowing if there was an armed student on campus or if it was just a drill. In classes students couldn't stand or walk by windows. It is my understanding that the teachers did not know what was occurring either. The school should call the parents while the drill is occurring that it is just a drill. "

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