Police dogs pay visit to Central, junior high

Central High School assistant principal Mark Ruark was pleased with the results of a routine drug check in and around the school and at Central Junior High School Friday.

Working with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, drug dogs visited the campuses. No drugs were found.

Dogs sniffed out cars parked around the campus and were taken into locker rooms throughout the schools.

"This was an unannounced check," said Ruark. "Students and their parents know that from time to time we bring the drug dogs in. They just don't know when they will be here."

The school will be using the services of drug dogs again.

"We want to provide a safe school environment," said Ruark. "We feel the checks help us in this cause and serve as a preventative."

Most don't object

The majority of students have no objections to the checks, said Ruark.

Aaron Dohogne, a junior at Central High, agreed. "It doesn't bother me," said Dohogne. "I don't see anything wrong with it."

Michaelyn Burns, a sophomore, echoed Dohogne's comments. "We know they bring the dogs in occasionally. It's OK with me."

The dogs check cars and lockers an average of about once a month, said Ruark.

"Hopefully, they won't find anything," he said.

If drugs are found, violations will be dealt with by the authorities and the school.

Ruark said only three violations had been discovered over the past three years.

"The students welcome the use of the drug dogs," said Cpl. Kevin Orr, a school resource officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department who spends time at both schools. "They're always asking when the drug dogs are coming."

Once a month average

"We may bring them back in a week," said Ruark. "Or we may wait a month. But it will average about once a month through the school term."

Manning the dogs during Friday's check were Dennis Horn and Mike Ervin.

Horn, of the Cape Police Department, handles Jupp, the department's 8-year-old German shepherd.

Jupp, who received his own bulletproof vest last year, has been with the police department about seven years, said Horn.

Ervin, who helps train police dogs for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies, was working with Eris, a young German shepherd who was brought to the United States from Europe about a year ago.

Ervin occasionally takes part in searches of school premises.

rowen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133