By Ra’Liah Griffin
Dragon Echo Staff
Ninth grade principal Mr. Bill Johnson has some advice for Red Ribbon Week: “Give hugs, not drugs.”
Mr. Johnson explained the policies students must follow at NHS to keep the school safe and drug-free.
Students with parking passes must pass a drug test, students involved in extra-curricular activities must pass a drug test, and students are also randomly drug tested throughout the year.
“Drug tests scan for illegal and prescription drugs,” Johnson said. “The consequences of having a positive drug test include not driving to school for 30 days and being removed from extra-curricular activities.”
Students who possess drugs or alcohol at school are sent to alternative placement for 30 days.
NISD Police Chief Sandy Murray uses a narcotics detection dog, Pablo, to help keep the school drug-free. Pablo is a 4-year-old Belgian Malanois who weighs 66 pounds. In addition to being a narcotics detection dog, he is also trained in handler protection.
Pablo was born in Hungary, and he is given his commands in Dutch.
He and Chief Murray were trained by Signal K-9, a local company owned and operated by Lt. Chasen Partin, who also works at the Nacogdoches Police Department.
Chief Murray said the training was intense. For the first week of training, Pablo went home every day with Partin. For the second week of training, he went home with Chief Murray as they got to know each other.
Now Chief Murray and Pablo are a solid team, and Murray said she hopes when it’s Pablo’s time to retire in several years, they will retire together.
“It’s a big responsibility to be a dog handler,” she said. “Pablo is hyper. He has to expend energy. We work out most mornings and some afternoons.”
Chief Murray said Pablo is used for scheduled drug searches twice a month and does random drug searches as needed. The building is cleared of students before Pablo ever goes in, so he never comes in contact with students. Pablo detects not only illegal drugs, but also prescription drugs.
Chief Murray also has advice for students.
“Drugs are a one-way ticket to nowhere,” she said. “If you get arrested, that goes on your record. When it’s time to apply for colleges or jobs, it follows you.”
Murray said vapes are killing children, and she cautions students to stay away from vaping and drinking.
“Don’t get caught up with the crowd,” she said. “Don’t bow to peer pressure. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but it can ruin your life.”
