Fighting drugs has gone to dogs - News

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Apr. 21, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Fighting drugs has gone to dogs

Highway Patrol following Arizona model targeting meth

By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Move over, McGruff. A new breed of canine crime-fighter is about to be unleashed on Nevada highways.

A half-dozen Nevada Highway Patrol troopers soon will be teamed with specially trained German shepherds. Their mission: to sniff out drugs and drug-tainted cash being trafficked along state highways.

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In about six weeks, a chance encounter with Willie or Popeye could spell trouble for drug runners who use Nevada's highways and freeways to transport methamphetamine, other drugs and cash.

The program, which will emulate a successful Arizona drug-dog project, was approved recently by the Nevada Legislature's Interim Finance Committee.

It's an idea that has evolved in Nevada following Gov. Jim Gibbons' visit last year to the U.S.-Mexico border. The illegal transportation of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, was a major issue discussed with officials from other states during his visit.

Jerry Hafen, director of the Nevada Department of Public Safety, told lawmakers that the Arizona program has had success in stemming the flow of illegal drugs.

It also has generated large sums of confiscated drug money.

Hafen said the main goal of the Nevada program, which initially will see two dogs being used in the north along Interstate 80 and four dogs being used in the south along Interstate 15 and other state highways, is to combat meth trafficking.

Methamphetamine now is produced for the most part in "super labs" in Mexico and transported by private vehicle to Nevada communities, Hafen said.

He said meth use has reached pandemic levels in Nevada, and that young people living in rural communities are especially at risk.

"The outcome will be, of course, to slow down and interdict drugs coming into our communities (and) slow down and interdict the cash that is coming out of our communities and going to Mexico," he said.

The K-9 program is expected to generate large amounts of both cash and illegal drugs once it gets under way, he said.

Hafen noted that a Nye County sheriff using a drug dog earlier this month found $750,000 in cash in a hidden compartment in a vehicle near Beatty. The money was confiscated.

A new organization, State of Nevada Friends for K-9, has recently formed and plans to donate two trained dogs to the program to get it started. The cost of acquiring and training a drug dog runs to $20,000.

Jim Denton, a member of the board of directors of the new nonprofit group, said it was formed to establish a public-private partnership to support a drug dog program in Nevada.

"It's good for the state and the people of the state," he said of the program. "We have a serious problem with drugs coming through our state. We're trying to contribute to addressing that problem."

Denton said the group's nonprofit status is being finalized. An announcement on its support of the program will be coming shortly, he said.

Denton said the group ultimately would like to support as many as 25 drug dogs in the state. It will also seek funds to provide protective vests for the dogs.

Jean Gagnon, deputy chief of investigations for the Public Safety Department, told lawmakers that when a vehicle suspected as a potential drug courier is stopped by one of the officers for what is typically a routine traffic violation, the drug dog will be used to perform a "perimeter sniff."

That type of search has been upheld in court decisions, he said.

The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-2 ruling in 2005 that a police officer's use of a drug dog to sniff for the presence of illicit drugs during a lawful traffic stop is constitutionally permissible, even if there are no specific facts to suggest drug activity.

Gagnon said that if the dog detects the odor of meth or some other illegal drug such as cocaine or marijuana, the trooper will then search the vehicle for drugs or cash.

Cash is commonly found because the dog picks up on drug residue in the car, he said.

Lawmakers were told there will be no new positions created within the Nevada Highway Patrol for the program. Instead, the dogs will be teamed with existing officers, who will get a pay boost, probably 5 percent, to cover the time needed to exercise and otherwise take care of their new partners.

Lawmakers looking for new revenue streams to help the beleaguered state budget won't be able to access any seized cash, however.

Gagnon said federal guidelines dictate how the seized drug money can be used. The funds are mostly aimed at further reducing illegal drug production, transportation and use.

The Arizona program started about a decade ago with six dogs and now uses 23 canines.

"They have been very successful in interfering with the flow of meth into their state," Gagnon said. "That is what we would like to do here with this program."

Lt. Angel Leos, unit commander for the Arizona K-9 program, said if success is measured by seizures of drugs, money and weapons, then the state is doing well.

In 2007, the program confiscated 1,100 pounds of cocaine, 240 pounds of meth, $4 million in currency and large amounts of other illegal drugs, he said.

The program, which started in 1991 with just a few animals, is expanding to 25 dogs and could use more, Leos said.

"We have seized more and more drugs every year," he said. "We are very successful doing it. Unfortunately, we don't have all the highways covered."

Contact Capital Bureau writer Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Mr. Pink wrote on April 22, 2008 08:58 AM: Yeah, sure, it's OK for routine traffic stops. So how soon will it be OK when they start randomly searching houses-- "Don't worry, if you have nothing to hide you'll be okay, trust me!"--workplaces, houses of worship, your grandmother's colostomy bag... The cynical will inherit this earth, because the meek are too busy being meek to shoot anyone in the face on sound constitutional principles. IDIOTS! Richard wrote on April 22, 2008 08:22 AM: Studies conducted in Europe and North America have determined that 80% of cash bills have trace amounts of cocaine on them that is detectable. Specifically in the U.S., you can confirm that with this link: http://ndsn.org/novdec97/chemists.htm So as soon as the pooch patrol is up and running, I imagine we'll all be meeting in prison fairly soon. And personally, I'm going to start training now to see how long I can go without taking a shower. Wake up Bill wrote on April 22, 2008 08:06 AM: Hey "Bill" what's keeping you from knowing that K-9's aren't funded through tax payers? And what's keeping you from realizing that your "career"/habit (aka: the "phony war on drugs") is killing our kids? K-9's are funded through the seizures of your assets stupid! Bill wrote on April 21, 2008 03:33 AM: What an incredible waste of taxpayer money. We're spending more than ever to find "meth labs" in the phony "epidemic" created by police and the media, and your top cop admits it's all being made in Mexico. What is keeping you people from telling the authorities to end the phony war on drugs? Pilot wrote on April 22, 2008 07:53 AM: It's interesting to note that the "nerd" types are incensed by the prospect of Nevada finally getting on board with the proven successful K-9 program. One should only be worried if it's your vehicle that could get hit during the sniff... which some of you "nay sayers" obviously are. Good! More convictions, and more importantly less drugs in our schools which directly translates to less kids being exposed to volatile substances. The peripheral benefit, more seizures and cash to subsidize more K-9's. Ahhh... man's best friend put's down another POS-SR. Nerds of my school wrote on April 22, 2008 01:35 AM: I say if you need a dog to do your job right why don,t we train apes too. Well teach them to drive and pull people over and have the dogs search the cars. That way we can f over everybody equally. First we'll f the cops, then criminals, then ordinary citizens- oh yeah then the animals. Dogs might be mans best friend but I'm sure deep down they hate cops too- skisailmtb40 wrote on April 21, 2008 08:13 PM: Cops confiscate money after the "owner" says.."gee, that's not mine, I dont know how that got hidden in a secret compartment in my car!" Clearly indicative that the cash is drug money. If it is not drug money, the owner just makes a claim and gets the money back. Drugs are destroying society... it's time to take their drugs AND their money. Tony wrote on April 21, 2008 04:54 PM: Nice doggie- How about sniffing out the drugs in our schools. Since most of the kids can't pass math, it is logical to assume that they are high on something. Mr. Pink wrote on April 21, 2008 01:54 PM: "The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-2 ruling in 2005 that a police officer's use of a drug dog to sniff for the presence of illicit drugs during a lawful traffic stop is constitutionally permissible, even if there are no specific facts to suggest drug activity." Well there's at least 6 judges that deserve a pickup truck dragging for coming down on the wrong side of the fourth amendment. Better SAFE than free, I guess? "The K-9 program is expected to generate large amounts of both cash and illegal drugs once it gets under way, he said." What a stupid statement. The cash and stash were ALREADY THERE, dogs don't go around printing bills or cooking meth. "It's an idea that has evolved in Nevada following Gov. Jim Gibbons' visit last year to the U.S.-Mexico border. The illegal transportation of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, was a major issue discussed with officials from other states during his visit." When was there ever a better time to press feds to fix the border? IDIOTS! undr cvr wrote on April 21, 2008 01:22 PM: Richard, Not as easy as a Nevada official!!! undr cvr wrote on April 21, 2008 01:19 PM: Now if we can just use them to sniff out corrupt judges and other officials here in Nevada. They would be handy in the public defender and DA's office and of course most of all, the Supreme Court. Dogs would be much more efficient cost wise, than the legislature and would get things done for the will of the people and attack crooked politicians and elected officials because they smell like crooks. Just turn them loose and let them go. Read All Comments