Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Drug Dog Allowed at School

In an effort to curb drugs in the Prescott school district, school board members agreed to allow a dog escorted by officers with the Nevada County Sheriff's department onto campus.

The decision, made at the regular board meeting last Tuesday, September 19, will allow searches of employees and students vehicles and through the halls of the district's three campuses.

There will not be a search of students by the dog, and classes will not be interupted.

The search will also take place in student common areas.

In Sheriff Harold Vines' first few months of office, he was invited onto campuses at Nevada and Emmet for similar searches.

In the case the dog "hits" on a locker or vehicle, the student who is responsible will be called from class and his/her parents will be notified to come immediately to the school.

A search will take place with the student and parents (if available) present.

In the case it is a legitimate drug find the student will be arrested immediately and turned over to juvenile authorities.

Authorities are hoping the random unannounced searches will keep drugs off school campuses.

Vines told the board no drugs were found at either of the other schools in the county.

A drug dog from Hempstead, Columbia, Lafayette or Pike counties will be used until the county begins using its own drug dog. It is expected Nevada County will have a drug dog available before the end of the year.

Dogs find not only drugs, but sniff out residue, ashes and drug related paraphernelia.