Drug-sniffing dog comes up empty - Good!

Cape Girardeau police officers walked their dog down the halls of Central High School earlier this month.

But the visit wasn't for pleasure. The German shepherd, Jupp, was there to sniff out illegal drugs.

Many high schools would have something to worry about from such a surprise inspection. Instead, Jupp came up with nothing at all. And that included checking students' cars.

Police check the school about once a month just to be sure. The visits are unpredictable so students don't comply with the law for a day and then start breaking it. About three students have been caught with drugs in the past three years.

The credit for such an admirable outcome goes to the parents and educators who have done a good job making students understand that illegal drug use is damaging and counterproductive to receiving an education.

And the credit also goes to students for getting the message.

Invariably, there is a small handful of students who like to boast that they have somehow thwarted these routine inspections.

Shame on them.

They are part of the problem, even if their boasts are hollow claims to grab attention.