'Bo' working to keep schools drug-free

November 9, 2006

By BEN GARRETT
Independent Herald Editor

HUNTSVILLE — It’s shortly after 10 a.m., and second period at Scott High School. In the school’s “100 Pod,” English and social studies classes are in session. But in the hall that encircles the school’s library, a visitor roams.

His name is Bo. He doesn’t need a visitor’s pass. This is his first visit to Scott High School, but won’t be his last.

Bo is one of two drug dogs employed in the Scott County Sheriff’s Department’s battle against narcotics and other illegal drugs. Together with K-9 handler Blake Murphy, Bo is ensuring that students (and other visitors) at Scott High are complying with drug-free school policies.

“We want the kids to know what we’re doing here,” says Sheriff Anthony Lay, who along with Chief Deputy Bobby Ellis; Deputy Troy Hull, the school’s resource officer; and Assistant Principal Doug Sharp observes as Bo works his way through the hallways of SHS.

“We’re going to randomly check schools, vehicles and lockers and do anything we can do to show the kids that we’re subject to walk in,” Lay added. “If you have drugs, you’re subject to pay the consequences.”

Bo takes his time through the 100 and 200 Pods, inspecting lockers and ducking into restrooms, even making a sweep through a couple of classrooms., before heading to the parking lot, where he inspects each vehicle parked on the campus. Only once does he “hit” on a locker. Sharp and Principal Sharon Wilson aid Sheriff Lay in searching the locker, but no drugs are found.

“Drug dogs are trained to pick up odors,” Lay said. “Perhaps a drug was in the locker at some point and some odor or residue was left. If so, luckily for the student, no drug was found.”

The second drug dog employed by the sheriff’s department is “J.J.” His handler is K9 Officer Kris Lewallen.

Lay, who has made the fight against illegal drugs a chief priority of his administration, said that while Scott High was the first school Bo is working, he will be making routine checks of the county’s middle schools as well.

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