Drug sweep canceled; officers out time and money

GIBSONBURG – A surprise K-9 drug sweep scheduled for Monday at Gibsonburg High School was canceled by the school’s superintendent because of a miscommunication.

The search for drugs in students’ lockers was scheduled by police chief Paul Whitaker and the high school administration last month, but school superintendent Jose Hernandez said he was never notified by the high school and that state testing on Monday was the higher priority.

“We blame ourselves. It was a miscommunication. Our calenders were not synced up,” Hernandez said.

Whitaker said he spoke with Hernandez on Monday morning after the cancellation and was told the sweep was canceled because Hernandez had not been notified by principal Tim Murray or buildings and grounds superintendent Joe King.

“I am confused and dumbfounded,” said Whitaker. He said Murray and King told him state testing would have nothing to do with the drug sweep.

The drug sweep, Whitaker said, would have lasted one class period — about 45 minutes — without notifying students ahead of time to surprise them and protect the K-9s against foreign substances planted in lockers.

“We try to think of all the possibilities. Kids can plant things to make the dog sick,” said Whitaker.

When the dog hits on a locker, officers tape the door and notify school administration.

With the school completing state testing, Hernandez said administrators help in the classroom and are not be available to assist police in identifying lockers.

Whitaker said his biggest concern is the time, money and effort wasted because of the last-minute cancellation.

“We had four dogs and 10 officers from the sheriff’s office, Bellevue police and Woodville,” he said. “I’m angry. We wasted a lot of time.”

Although the time involved before the sweep was canceled was brief, Whitaker said his staff are paid for two hours of work if they came in on their day off.

“They don’t do this for free. I will request to council they (other department personnel) be compensated. I have to pay my men time and a half,” Whitaker said.

Hernandez said the school is welcome to reschedule, but Whitaker said scheduling a sweep this late in the school year will be challenging.

He said the excuse for canceling the search was not good enough. “I am beginning to wonder if the schools want law enforcement eradicating drugs,” Whitaker said.

cshoup@gannett.com

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Twitter: CraigShoupNH