DRUG-SNIFFING DOG BRINGS MESSAGE

Will Show Off Skills To Educate Students

CITY police will launch an anti-drug campaign for Grade 9 students this
upcoming school year using a drug-sniffing dog.

Canine unit head Sgt. Cliff Samson said Const. Dave Karsin and his dog
Jazmin will demonstrate their skills in a controlled search as a way to get
students to listen to a message about drug use.

"The dog is a great icebreaker," Samson said. "People of any age get into a
conversation with the police officer because of the dog.

"Some of these people would not have anything to do with a police officer."

The plan is for the dog to do a search for drugs hidden earlier by Karsin.
Jazmin will not do a random search.

"It's an educational thing," Karsin said. "We want to let young kids know
about drugs and the consequences." Jazmin has been partly responsible for a
recent marijuana seizure. The dog found about nine kilograms of marijuana
hidden in a truck.

She has also participated in one of the largest cocaine seizures in the
city, more than twice the last record seizure of 17 kilos three years ago.

Police have not released details of the seizure as the case is still under
investigation.

Jazmin's display will be followed by a discussion on drug abuse.

Samson also said the focus will be on crystal methamphetamine, a highly
addictive street drug slowly making inroads into the city's drug market.

"We want to drive home how debilitating this drug is," Samson said. "It
rots your teeth and ruins your life." Samson said police hope to speak to
every high school with Grade 9 students over the course of the fall.

He added the idea of the initiative was born out of the success of the
school resource officer program in Winnipeg's North End.

The program ran for three years and is expected to continue this fall once
$1 million in funding is secured.