Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
Related Articles
A company utilizing trained canines for school searches in the DFW area reports discovering as many as 30 firearms on local campuses during this academic year.
The visuals provided by the search team to NBC 5 are impactful: numerous pills and handguns found within Metroplex schools. This is the harsh reality these security specialists aim to combat.
“Our primary concerns are fentanyl and firearms,” stated Josh Ellis, the proprietor of H1 K9 Consultants. “These are the two major issues we’re focused on, even from a handler’s perspective.”
H1 K9 is a private firm that employs dog handlers to conduct campus searches in collaboration with 100 local districts.
According to the company, since August, they’ve uncovered up to 30 firearms and confiscated approximately 1500 drugs within DFW schools.
“The statistics are alarming, and it’s concerning,” Ellis remarked.
For the past few years, Garland ISD has integrated these search dogs into daily operations on their campuses.
“Our motto is that a child can’t focus on learning when they’re worried about their safety,” noted Mark Quinn, the director of security at Garland ISD. “So, we saw the K9 program as an additional tool to enhance safety measures.”
During a routine search, the dog team would arrive at a Garland ISD campus and proceed to a classroom cleared of students, where backpacks were left unattended.
The canine would swiftly inspect each bag before signaling any discoveries.
In a simulated search, a small handgun was found in one bag, while imitation fentanyl was discovered in another.
“It’s a valuable tool that we utilize to detect and remove prohibited items from our campuses,” Quinn affirmed.
When firearms or narcotics are discovered, district officials informed NBC 5 that they initiate an assessment of the student, considering measures such as discipline, mental health support, or legal consequences.
Though they acknowledge their inability to be omnipresent, this team of canine searchers hopes to contribute to enhancing campus security.
“Every time we remove a firearm from a school, it’s a gratifying feeling, knowing we’ve made a positive impact,” Ellis reflected. “Perhaps we’ve even saved a life.”