SCENTS: DOGS SEND A MESSAGE AT SCHOOL

Hoping to dispel rumors that Cape Girardeau Central High School is a drug haven, school officials welcomed a trio of trained German shepherds to search for contraband on the campus Friday.

No drugs were found, no arrests were made.

School and police officials hope students got the message.

"School is not the place for the contraband," said Superintendent Neyland Clark said. "The message we are sending is, `Don't bring illegal contraband to school.'"

Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. said, "We wanted to demonstrate to those who choose to abuse drugs that we are serious in our campaign to eradicate it from our community."

The operation reflects months of planning by the school district, Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, city police, county sheriff's department, prosecuting attorney and juvenile authorities.

"From the very onset we did not believe we have any greater drug problem than any other school," Clark said. "However, there are some people who continue to allege that Central High School has a drug problem. We were fearful that perception was hurting the school.

"We decided that if we had a problem, if the allegations and charges were true, we had a responsibility to address those problems," Clark said.

"And if we don't have a problem, we need to make a statement to that fact also. We are not afraid to address the issue and dispel the rumors."

Students and staff were told Monday the drug sweep would take place; they were not told when.

Clark said officials decided to announce the upcoming drug sweep in an effort to promote awareness.

"This is the first time they've come on campus," he said. "Next time, it probably will not be announced."

Two handlers and three dogs began the sweep at 8 a.m. in the parking lot nearest the swimming pool. Officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department and County Sheriff's Department assisted in the search.

In a systematic manner, the handlers led dogs past each car on the lot. The dogs are trained that search~ing for drugs is a game.

When the dogs pick up the odor of drugs, they begin yelping, biting and scratching, trying to get at the source of the scent.

Within half an hour Friday, the dogs had identified two suspect vehicles. The students driving those cars were asked to unlock the vehicles, but the dogs and officers found no drugs inside.

Boyd said, "The dogs hit on some automobiles, which means sometime in the past, perhaps even with a different owner, there may have been drugs in those cars."

After lunch, the handlers led dogs through hallways at Central High and Junior High, sniffing the vents of student lockers. No drugs were found, although school officials did open a few lockers to allow the dogs a better sniff.

At each class change, students flocked to see what the dogs were doing. Rumors were rampant in the building about why the search was under way and what talents the dogs might have. For example, students questioned if the dogs might mistake clove cigarettes for marijuana or if the dogs could sense alcohol stashed in their vehicles.

Boyd said part of the preparation for Friday's drug sweep was some research by the prosecutor's office to ensure the searches were done legally.

Boyd said automobiles have a separate classification in search and seizure laws.

"It stems from a 1925 Supreme Court liquor bootlegging case," he explained. "Because automobiles are highly mobile and move so rapidly, we are given much wider latitude in searching automobiles.

"The fact that dog hits on an automobile gives us the right to search that car."

School lockers too have been the issue of a Supreme Court ruling regarding searches.

"Students must be given notice that the lockers are subject to search," Boyd said. "In this case, students are given notice in their student handbooks.

"I was hoping not to find anything," Boyd said. "If we had, we would have acted accordingly. ... I think Friday's drug sweep demonstrates the seriousness of the issue and the fact that we want to do something about the problem. One of the things we can do is an occasional drug sweep. And the next time there will be no advance notice."

Clark said, "It's not our intent to violate anyone's constitutional rights, but on the other hand, we don't want anyone to think that any one property of the Cape Girardeau schools is a haven to violate state and federal laws. Just because you come on campus, does not mean you are exempt.

"We really believe that the contraband is not on the campus of our schools; it's in the community," Clark said. "But we want to ensure a clean and safe environment to promote teaching."