City Approves Drug Dogs at PV High

The Palos Verdes Estates City Council approved Tuesday night a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District implementing a drug-sniffing dog program at Palos Verdes High School.

The program, which was first discussed in 2011, involves bringing a drug-sniffing dog to the high school campus to "smell the air near lockers, cars and common areas," according to a notice to parents from Principal Nick Stephany sent March 8—the day after the PVPUSD Board of Education approved the program.

"The primary intent of this program is to serve as a deterrent to kids bringing illegal substances to campus," Stephany wrote. "School must be a safe learning environment. I am fully aware that this will not solve all substance abuse problems, but it will make a positive difference."

Drug-sniffing dogs are trained to detect the odor of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and multiple prescription medications; however, the dogs are not trained to alert to the scent of smoked marijuana.

If a dog alerts on a locker or other property, indicating that there may be drugs inside, the school district will be alerted.

"Any subsequent action taken with respect to student lockers and unattended property found in open areas will be performed at the discretion of the district and by district personnel," according to the memorandum of understanding.

"There will be a PVHS administrator and PVEPD officer with the dog at all times," according to Stephany.

Before the drug-sniffing dog starts searching the campus, the school district will host information sessions and a parent meeting to inform the community about the program.

The agreement does not cover Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates. School districts in Torrance, Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach also have drug-sniffing dog programs.