Special K-9

units trained to detect illegal drugs are being used by the Fayette County

Sheriff's Department to search local schools.

So far, no

drugs have been found in searches at Whitewater Middle School and Sandy

Creek High School, said Maj. Bruce Jordan, director of investigations

for the sheriff's department.

The action

is being taken at the request of school officials, Jordan said.

"The schools

requested that we take some action to try and curb any possible drug activity,"

Jordan said.

The K-9 units

have searched lockers and bookbags in addition to parking lot areas, Jordan

said.

"We try

to do something a little bit different at each school," he added.

Wayne Robinson,

director of secondary school operations for the Fayette County Board of

Education, said the goal is to provide a safe, drug-free environment for

students.

"Students

are responsible for what's in their bookbags, lockers and cars,"

Robinson said. "We think we're sending a message when we bring in

the drug-sniffing dogs. ... Hopefully, it will be a deterrent, a good

check for illegal substances."

Robinson said

school officials don't feel the searches are intrusive, adding that students

and parents are notified in the student conduct code that searches will

be conducted. Some principals even sent letters home to parents warning

them that searches for drugs and other contraband items would take place

this year.

No particular

school has been targeted in the search process, Robinson said, adding

that dogs have hit on several "suspected" drugs.

The schools

appreciate the effort of Fayette's law enforcement agencies on this and

other school safety programs, Robinson noted.