Jordy helps form anti-drug partnership between schools and cops

To The Press

The Charles City Community School District and the Charles City Police Department are forming another partnership to help keep illegal and prescription drugs away from students and off campus.

The agreement will allow Officer Dario Gamino and the department’s new Dutch shepherd K-9 narcotics dog, Jordy, to train in the evenings at school facilities. It will allow Jordy to gain experience in the schools while also developing the dog’s stamina.

“Jordy’s presence is intended to send a message,” said Charles City Police Chief Hugh Anderson. “Don’t bring drugs to school.”

During random campus visits, Jordy will sniff around lockers, gym areas, restrooms, vehicles, classrooms and school grounds, searching for potential illegal drug items.

“No school in the Midwest is isolated from illicit or prescription drug abuse,” said Bryan Jurrens, Charles City High School principal. “Working with the Police Department with regular unannounced searches allows us to prevent these substances from being in our schools.”

According to a statement from the school district, the affiliation benefits the district by continuing to keep students safe while using resources inside the community. The district is reviewing its safety procedures in anticipation of Jordy visiting to conduct sniffs during the school day. The first daytime sweep is anticipated for later this month.

“Having Jordy in the community means we can run checks at regular intervals,” said Anderson. “The school has been great to work with, and we are working hand-in-hand to prevent Charles City from being a problem community. This welcoming, visible, proactive partnership from school leadership is appreciated.”

The district said it values the role Jordy and the Charles City Police Department play in education and prevention. This proactive partnership prevents narcotics on school grounds rather than only responding reactively to drug-related problems, according to the district.

“Obviously there are consequences for having illicit substances on school grounds,” Jurrens said. “However, we can also get people the help they need and intervene early.”

According to the Iowa Youth Survey, 22 percent of students surveyed statewide say they have used marijuana. Iowa is the second lowest state in the nation for youth drug use.

“The use of canine-assisted drug sweeps does not indicate a school has an abnormal amount of drugs on campus,” said Anderson. “Instead, it indicates the willingness of school officials to remain proactive in their efforts to ensure the safety and security of the school.”