Drug-sniffing dogs find no illegal drugs inside
CARIBOU, Maine — Drug-sniffing dogs roamed the Caribou High School campus while students and staff participated in a lockdown drill. Beginning at approximately 10 a.m. last Monday, the exercise was a collaboration between the faculty as well as the Caribou and State police departments.
“No drugs were found in the school,” said Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan. “A small amount of a substance was found outside the school, but it was taken care of.”
CHS Principal Travis Barnes and Chief Gahagan both view the drill as a success.
“The students have requested the dogs in the past,” said Gahagan. “It makes them feel safe and it is something we can provide by collaborating with the state police.”
“The police department is very cooperative and willing to help out when I contacted them,” said Barnes. We all worked together to pull it off.”
The lockdown is part of the school’s emergency response procedures, which includes fire drills.
“We know that illegal drug use is on the rise in our community and across our state,” added Barnes, “and these concerns extend to school children as well. We want to produce a safe, drug-free environment for all students who attend Caribou High School, and the lockdown signifies our stance on wanting to keep kids safe in emergency situations.”
The morning walk-through was relatively brief, and Barnes estimates that students were “back into the flow of their schedule within an hour and half.”
The principal shared an email from Jennifer Olson, a mother who appreciates the efforts of the school and police to facilitate a drug-free learning environment.
“Thank you to you and (Vice Principal) Mr. Wakana for keeping our kids safe and drug free,” wrote Olson. “I cannot express how great it is that what we enforce at home is being enforced at the schools. Kudos to you and all of your staff!”
“To me, that letter reassures us that we were doing the right thing by practicing our emergency response procedures and also ensuring that our schools are safe for our students.” Barnes said.
