Starting in March, drug-sniffing police dogs will be used to search Loudoun County high school buildings for illegal narcotics, such as fentanyl, the school system said.
“Working closely with law enforcement and leveraging this added layer of prevention helps to keep our spaces safe. By teaming up, we’re making sure our schools stay focused on creating a positive environment for every student,” said Superintendent Aaron Spence, in a statement.
The random searches that will be done by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Leesburg Police Department are part of an effort to deter students from abusing drugs and come after suspected overdoses.
“The LCSO is working aggressively with LCPS to keep dangerous substances out of our schools and communities,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman. “More student and community awareness of the danger, coupled with greater deterrence, are key to our long-term success and I am hopeful that the use of canine scans will help.”
The sheriff’s office said in 2023 there were 22 nonfatal opioid overdoses among juveniles. At least 13 incidents happened since the start of the school year in August, including at least eight at Park View High School in Sterling involving counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.
Students will not be notified in advance of the drug sweeps that will take about 90 minutes and will involve a dog, its handler, the School Resource Officer, and an administrator. The school will go into “hold” status, where students and teachers remain in classrooms, while the scan is done.
The school system said, “Specifics will not be released about areas to be scanned. However, students or staff may see canine teams in hallways, near lockers, or in classrooms where students are not present.”
The drug dogs will not search individual students, but will alert authorities if they suspect illegal narcotics in lockers.
The school system will let families know in a community message after a scan occurs.
“If these canine scans are useful as deterrents to the presence of drugs on campus, we anticipate continuing them in the 2024-2025 school year,” the school system said.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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