Students at Bryce Valley High School in Tropic and Escalante High School were shocked when officers from Cedar City appeared unannounced at the schools recently, rummaged through lockers and the buildings and used a trained dog in searching for drugs.
But it was what they didn't find that was a tribute to the students. They found no drugs. The search was part of a Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in Beaver, Iron and Garfield counties that has been so successful that Cedar City Police Chief Pete Hansen said he would like to see it in all southern Utah schools.Following the "sting" operations, in-depth drug awareness messages were given during assemblies, designed to hold interest and discourage use of drugs at the Escalante and Tropic schools. Students also watched the trained search-dog work.
Garfield County Sheriff Than Cooper and deputy sheriff Celeste Bernards, who authorized the school searches and programs, concluded it is an effective way to approach drug problems.
"We're not taking drugs lightly and we told students we can be back at any time unannounced," Cooper said.
"What we're after is drug-free schools," the sheriff added.
Officials feel the one-day-per-week, 17-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is more comprehensive than a five-week DARE program that has been conducted in the past. Cooper said such activities as the searches and education assemblies can go a long way toward what students need to know about drugs to live drug-free lives.
Bryce Valley High Principal Scott Jackson, who said he was not notified in advance of the search, praised officers for their "straightforward approach." In effect, officers said "We're going to teach you what's right, but if you don't follow the law, we'll do what the law requires us to do."
Hansen said the DARE program has overwhelming community support, crediting much of its success to the Parent-Teacher Association and interaction with parents as students progress through the course.