NUSD Board Approves Use Of Drug-Sniffing Dogs At Schools

Police dogs are now permitted to sniff out drugs on school campuses, as a result of a board policy change approved Tuesday night.

The Newark Unified Board of Education unanimously voted at its regular board meeting to approve a policy that allows “specially trained, nonaggressive dogs to sniff out and alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or Board policy.”

Board members also unanimously voted to put the policy in effect immediately, as determined by Superintendent Dave Marken, who said the district plans to notify staff, parents and students.

School Resource Officer Aaron Slater said prior to the vote that the use of the canines could help school officials prevent the use, possession and sales of drugs on school campuses and identify individuals who violate drug laws.

“The goal here is [drug] prevention and minimizing these incidents,” Slater said. “This is not a witch hunt by the police;” it’s a way to help the school, he added.

Slater said the drug sniffs would be non-invasive and would not occur around students or any other individuals. The policy states that canines will be allowed to “sniff the air around lockers, desks, or vehicles on district property or at district-sponsored events.”

Canines used in searches would be leashed and under the control of a police canine handler at all times, Slater said. He added that the dogs are “very well trained.”

“I know there’s talk of certain drugs in particular that are more prevalent than others but the dogs’ [senses of smell] are just amazing. They can sniff out a pill of ecstasy in many different bags, lockers… PCP, cocaine, marijuana, anything [in any form],” Slater said.

The dogs will not be allowed to sniff students or other people on campus or a person’s private belongings that are in his or her possession without his or her consent as it would violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Slater emphasized, however, that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that dogs sniffing inanimate objects are not a violation of this protection.

A cost for the program was not available Tuesday night.

For demonstrations of how canines are used in contraband searches, watch the accompanying videos.

The board’s decision comes two weeks after at the city’s two high schools.

Pleasanton Unified’s policy states that the dogs are only allowed to patrol if the district’s superintendent or someone else approves the individual search first.

School districts in Castro Valley, Dublin and Livermore already use drug-sniffing dogs.

The Newark Police Department's K-9 Unit consists of two patrol teams. to learn more about the K-9 unit as presented in the department's Citizen Police Academy in 2011.

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

• The board approved setting a policy to increase graduation requirements at Newark Memorial High School to be aligned with A-G requirements, which are guidelines for admissions to California State universities and University of California institutions. A more detailed report on the board’s discussion regarding this will be published on Newark Patch at a later date.
• The board unanimously voted to reduce graduation requirements at Bridgepoint High School from 230 credits to 190 credits. The change consists of a reduction of 30 units in general elective credits and a reduction of 10 units in Fine Arts credits.

The ’s next regular meeting is scheduled forat the district office, 5715 Musick Ave. Click here to visit the district’s website to download board meeting minutes and board agendas.