NOSE FOR TROUBLE: A SNIFFER DOG IS A POWERFUL DETERRENT

Ex-Cop Makes It His Business To Keep Drugs Out Of Schools. First, He
Shows Students His Dog At Work

In more innocent times, there was no need for the type of service
Andre Bernier provides. In 2005, there were many takers.

Bernier, 58, a former Surete du Quebec police officer, works
privately with schools and companies across the province to help keep
drugs off the premises.

He does it with his 8-year-old German shepherd Tim, a dog specially
trained to detect drugs or drug residue on property and in lockers,
backpacks and classrooms.

"Unfortunately, it's become a pretty serious problem," Bernier said.
"From what I've read, about 35 per cent of students (at the
high-school level) consume at school.

"It's not always the people you might think, either. Good students
with no problems can fall under the grip of drug dealers pretty
quickly, especially with the highly addictive drugs that are out there now."

The prospect of being detected by a sniffer dog, however, is
powerfully dissuasive.

Institutions that hire Bernier - and they include some of Quebec's
top private schools - typically convene students for a demonstration
of Tim's talents early in the school year.

That won't deter everyone from taking a chance, but directors say it
does make a difference.

"It's a very effective detection tool," Bernier said, "though you'll
never get zero drugs. It's not feasible now."

A father of two and grandfather of three, Bernier retired from the SQ
in 1998 after almost 30 years with the provincial force, the last 20
as a "dogmaster."

In that time, he had five canine partners, with whom he did drug and
explosives detection and search-and-rescue work.

"It was hard work because you were on call 24 hours a day, virtually
every day of the year, and they were pressure situations, often at
night and in difficult conditions," he said.

The dogs cost from $25,000 to $35,000 to develop and train, and
another $7,000 to $8,000 a year to keep healthy and certified, he said.

After leaving the SQ, Bernier worked initially as an instructor of
other police dogmasters. He also provided canine drug-detection
services for a year to federal penitentiaries.

His new venture began with a pilot project in conjunction with local
police at schools in the Laurentians in 2000.

His company, Bernier Conseillers Canins Inc., employs another retired
police officer and dog, while a third team is being trained to start
working next year.

For an hourly fee that ranges from $70 to $100 (depending on such
things as distance), Bernier and his dog make a specified number of
visits (usually unannounced) over the course of the school year, and
more if needed.

"It's important to be visible," he said. "If they don't see you, they
might be more tempted to take a chance."

What happens when Tim uncovers something depends on the individual
school or company. Each has its own protocol for dealing with drug
violations, and most have support programs in place for students or
employees with substance problems.

As depressing as it is to discover users in high school, at least
there's a chance an intervention at that point will help students
before it's too late, Bernier said.

He sees his job more as a public service than a money-maker.

"It keeps me busy a couple of days a week doing something I like to
do, and the cause is good."