POLICE DOG VISITS LOCAL SCHOOLS AS PART OF VIP DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM

The skilled nose of a police dog impressed and educated students who
attended a mock drug search assembly last week. Gunner and his handler OPP
Constable Larry Plummer visited several of the County's elementary schools
in conjunction with the awareness program Values, Peers and Influences, (VIP).

The mock drug search performed by Gunner, a three year old German shepherd
police dog and his handler 12 year OPP veteran Constable Larry Plummer, was
a follow up to a presentation made by community services officer Constable
Tom Reansbury about the dangers of drugs. Cons. Reansbury conducts the OPP
awareness program VIP which is aimed primarily at grade six students. The
program educates the children on pertinent issues that they face such as
drugs, bullying and youth and the law.

During the visits Cons. Reansbury shows pictures of commonly used drugs
like marijuana, hashish, cocaine and ectasy tablets, explains the dangers
of the drugs and answers any questions the students may have.

"We have a frank discussion about the dangers of drugs. It is important
they know the differences and are familiar with the drugs," explained Cons.
Reansbury.

"There are no dumb questions. I get to know the students at a young age and
they learn to talk to me. When they get older they're not as nervous around
police officers," he continued.

Following the mock search where Gunner successfully located planted
marijuana and hashish, Cons. Plummer answered a multitude of questions from
students concerning the training and use of police dogs. He explained that
Gunner is one of 25 dogs employed by the OPP for search purposes.

In addition to searching for drugs, Gunner is also used to track criminals
or help locate missing persons. While the OPP use a variety of sources to
find a suitable dog, Cons. Plummer told the students that the German
shepherd breed is the most commonly used because of their desire and
ability to work and their strong retrieval instinct.

Search dogs are on duty 24 hours a day and according to Cons. Plummer are
generally retired after 8 or 9 years of service. To date Cons. Reansbury
has visited six of the 18 school's in the County with the VIP program and
added that later in the year he will make a "more in depth" power point
presentation to grade eight students.