DRUG DOGS MAKE SURPRISE VISIT TO JACKSON SCHOOLS

JACKSON -- Canine units from the Jackson Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol entered Jackson Junior High School for a surprise drug search Friday morning.

The search was held as a result of reports heard by school and law enforcement officials about the presence of drugs in the schools. Although no drugs were found, the school superintendent, Dr. Howard Jones, said he hopes students got a clear message from the search.

"We're not naive enough to think that drugs can't be a problem in our schools," said Jones. "This is just an additional deterrent to keep drugs out of the school setting."

Jones said the drug search was not revealed to faculty or students beforehand.

Students remained in their classrooms while the dogs searched student and gym lockers throughout the school. Several classes also moved out while the dogs searched the rooms.

Unannounced searches will take place in the school district whenever the presence of drugs are suspected, authorities said.

Jones said he has been in contact with prosecutors, who have told him court cases exist that support drug searches anywhere on school property. That includes lockers and vehicles driven onto school property, if drugs are suspected, he said.