Edmond police officer Dack Pearson holds the lead of his new canine partner and drug dog, Justice, while he checks a vehicle Tuesday at Edmond North High School. Photo By Paul Hellstern

By Diana Baldwin for NewsOK.com

EDMOND — Officers took their newly trained police dog to local high schools, where he sniffed cars and lockers and promptly found drugs.

Two students were arrested Monday at Edmond Memorial High School and one at Edmond North High School, police spokeswoman Glynda Chu said Wednesday.

Four students were suspended from classes at Memorial and two were suspended from North, said Brenda Lyons, Edmond Public Schools associate superintendent.

Chu did not release the names of the students or the amount and type of drugs that were found. She said reports on the arrests have not been written.
Justice, a 70-pound black Labrador retriever, also searched Edmond Santa Fe High School, but no one was suspended there, Lyons said.

One of the students caught up in the drug investigation was removed from his classroom in the middle of the day by a school official while a police officer and the dog remained in the room’s doorway, a witness said.

Lyons said the drug dog will be used to make periodic random searches at the middle and high schools.

“We feel like he is already doing his job,” Lyons said.

Justice and his partner, officer Dack Pearson, are assigned to Boulevard Academy.

The dog was certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training on Aug. 31.

“I think he is a great tool,” Pearson said. “We hope that he will help the kids make better choices.”

Police turned to the Edmond Animal Welfare Center to find a good dog because money is tight, Pearson said.

The animal was brought to the center after being found wandering around a construction site.

Justice is only trained to find drugs. The police department has four other dogs that are cross-trained in explosives, narcotics and for patrol.

“Justice knows no aggressive behaviors,” Pearson said. “He has not been trained that way. He always wants to play — that is his drive.”

Jim Carlile, Boulevard Academy principal, said, “We like it because he is strictly a drug dog and not cross-trained. He is a friendly guy, just a puppy.

“He has proven himself very quickly.”