FURRY AMBASSADOR: Police dog reinforces drug-free message

Students are used to hearing a drug-free message.

Speakers regularly come into Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson schools to tell them how much drugs hurt their lives. Posters remind them everyday to remain drug free.

Now, a dog will reinforce the message.

The school district received a $5,000 grant from Drug Free Johnson County and used the money to buy a police K9 dog named Brody for the Trafalgar Police Department.

The dog will conduct drug searches at the school, Superintendent Matt Prusiecki said.

Educators and officers hope the dog will discourage students from bringing drugs to school and will help foster a relationship between younger students and law enforcement.

“The goal was to use the money for a practical application,” Prusiecki said. “We want (Brody) to be seen and be a part of the community.”

In the past, school officials worked with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office to have a police dog sweep the school once a semester, Prusiecki said. Brody, trained in sniffing out narcotics such as marijuana and methamphetamine, will look for the drugs about every other week, he said.

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