Contraband Canines to Search Cumberland Schools

Cumberland County Schools will begin to utilize specialized drug dogs within the middle and high schools.

Owner of the Tennessee and Alabama offices of Interquest Canine Rocky Montgomery presented a handler and canine named Loretta during the last school board meeting.

Montgomery said the dogs sniff out more than just illegal drugs.

“They are also certified to find guns, alcohol, and prescription pills, like oxy and hydro. This is a deterrent program,” Montgomery said. “Loretta and all of our other dogs they are what we call sniffers. Which means, no lock down and it doesn’t disturb the school day.”

Montgomery said each month a canine and handler will conduct a walk through of the school.

“So what happens, it’s very simple, he comes in and check in at the office. We always want an administrator, principal or vice principal with us,” Montgomery said. “We always have to have somebody that has the right to search if the student doesn’t give us permission to search.”

Montgomery said the handler will never make accusations towards a student.

“Because, first of all, the dog, because they do hit hydrocodone and oxcycotin, they will also indicate on ibprohen and Advil because of the ingredients,” Montgomery said. “These dogs break down each separate ingredient. Trainers told me that if you had spaghetti said the dog can sniff it down to the oregano. ”

Montgomery said the trainer and administrator will allow the student to explain the situation.

“He will give that student opportunity to explain what he thinks. He will even suggest, ‘Well do you have any ammo in the vehicle? Have you smoked marijuana in the car? Did you spill beer in the car?'” Montgomery said. “Students will say, ‘Well, I don’t know.’ Then he will say, ‘I need to take a look inside there.’ Never use the word search.”

Montgomery said the canine may not prevent a shooting but can deter students from bringing weapons to school.

“I cannot guarantee you won’t have a shooting. I can say this, if there is a loaded weapon or a weapon that has not been fired and it is on your property,” Montgomery said. “And one of my dogs sniffs it. You have a very high likelihood we are going to recover that weapon.”

Montgomery said that if a shooting does take place, the school system at least has a security previously implemented.

“They can say, ‘this is what we are doing. We have a certified canine coming in to make sure that there is not weapons. Give us more money and we will have them come more often.”

The Interquest Canine is the nation’s oldest and largest contraband detection and drug dog services provider.