Exeter High Drug Sweep Comes Up Empty

Submitted by the Exeter Police Department:

February 7, 2014

The Exeter Police Department in cooperation with Exeter High School officials and canine handlers from six different communities, conducted a sweep of the Exeter High School. This operation was conducted as a pro-active approach to combating illegal drug use in the school and to comply with the Safe Schools Act. The police department has received information from a number of different sources to include the school resource officer, parents, students and staff members that illegal drugs and abuse of prescription drugs are available at the school. We know that it is a small minority of students that cause these concerns at the school. It is the intention of the police and the school administrators to not allow this minority to affect the well being and learning environment of the remainder of students and staff. Both school officials and the police have an obligation to students and staff to have a safe, secure and drug free school environment and we take this obligation seriously. This behavior is not tolerated in the community and will not be tolerated in the school environment.

The search was conducted in randomly chosen classrooms at the high school while the school was in a working lock down. No contraband was located during the sweep.

The six canines and handlers that assisted in the search are from the following communities: Officer Keith Mackenzie, Rochester PD, Deputy Brittany Perley Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Officer Eric Kinsman, Portsmouth PD, Officer Adam Shaw Wells Maine PD and Officer Kevin Chabot Wells Maine PD, Officer Jay Durgin, Kittery Maine PD, These canines are all certified in narcotic detection. 

After the search was conducted two handlers spoke at law classes to explain to the students what they do and why they do it. The students were involved with the officers in a question and answer setting.