Muskego High School Canine Search Results in Four Violations

parents were sent a letter on Dec. 8, advising them of the results of a canine-assisted search of school lockers and parking lots.

Dr. Dennis Bussen, principal at the school explained the search was done, "in accord with School District policy, and through the assistance of law enforcement officers from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office and the Muskego Police Department."

"The specially trained canine units from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office identified two lockers and five cars today on our campus that could possibly be in violation of our district policy forbidding controlled substances on school campus," Bussen explained. "Follow-up investigations of the identified lockers and cars by our administrators and police found that we had one actual locker violation and three actual parking lot violations."

Muskego Police confirmed that they did make arrests for marijuana possession, but did not have the specifics of each case; they could not say whether the offenses would result in municipal charges, or if any would end up in juvenile court. 

Bussen reiterated to parents, "violation of our district policy on possession, use, sale or distribution of drugs, look-alike drugs or drug paraphernalia on school campus is a serious matter that results in significant disciplinary action and/or referral for police action."

MHS follows most school districts in Waukesha County and in the area, which conduct occasional canine-assisted searches "in efforts to keep students and staff safe and to contribute to the ambitious goal of a drug-free school campus."

While Bussen did not have data to compare MHS, which has an approximate enrollment of 1,700 students, to other similar size schools (some do not conduct searches), he did say the school has seen a steady decline in arrests since canine searches began several years ago.