DANVILLE — Danville’s police K-9 Sergeant Dan Weckesser and canine officer Lasko, along with the assistance of Coshocton County K-9 Deputy Dave Stone and canine officer Dingo, performed a surprise sweep of the Danville Local Schools for illegal narcotics and contraband on Thursday, according to Danville Chief of Police Monte Vance.
The K-9 units simultaneously did a sweep of the junior high/elementary school and the high school at the same time. An announcement had been made in each school via the public address system prior to doing the sweeps giving any student in possession of illegal narcotics or contraband a 15-minute grace period to voluntarily surrender such items. This announcement instructed, that should any student turn over an illegal item, the matter would be handled by the school administration as per the disciplinary policy of the local school. The announcement went on to inform that after this 15-minute grace period passes, the K-9 units will be deployed and should any illegal item be discovered by the K-9 units, the Danville Police would handle the matter which could possibly result in criminal charges being filed.
No illegal narcotics or contraband were surrendered during the 15-minute grace period in either building and nothing was discovered during the sweeps of either building by the K-9 units.
Vance was encouraged by these results and said, “Parents and students have an expectation that the educational environment that the Danville Local School system is providing will be as free as possible from illegal drugs and illegal drug activity.”
Vance said that by doing this type of surprise sweep, it allows the public to know that not only does their local school administration work to provide as safe of an environment as possible for their students, but law enforcement is willing to work along with the administration to do what part it can to assist in providing safety for their students.
Vance commended the cooperative effort of the Danville Local School’s administration, the Danville Police K-9 Unit and the Coshocton County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit in helping achieve a “Drug Free Zone” for the Danville Local Schools.
