WEST NEWBURY — Yesterday morning, West Newbury Police and the Essex County Sheriff's Department swept the middle and high schools in search of drugs, but found none.
The Sheriff's Department K-9 unit, made up of seven dogs, swept through the Pentucket middle and high schools, along with one dog from Amesbury Police Department.
Superintendent Paul Livingston requested the drug sweep.
"Today at the Middle School and the High School we invited in the Essex County Sheriff's Department K-9 Unit to check lockers for the presence of drugs," Livingston said in an e-mail to parents. "I wish to thank our local police departments, especially Chief Lisa Holmes of West Newbury, for helping to coordinate this schedule. Along with our ongoing programs and procedures in this area of student and community wellness, this is one tool that helps us maintain a culture focused on student achievement."
Holmes did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.
Spokesperson for Sheriff Frank Cousins, Paul Fleming, said the sweep was at the request of Livingston, and no narcotics were found.
"It was a joint operation requested by the West Newbury Police Department to us," Fleming said. "We had seven passive drug-sniffing and detecting animals there in two schools, in the high school and the middle school. Also assisting in operation was K-9 unit and officer Thomas Nichols of the Amesbury Police Department."
Fleming said in school drug sweeps, the Sheriff's Department is invited in, and their office does not make any arrests.
"We do not make any arrests of youngsters," Fleming said. "Those decisions are left to the local police department and school department administration."
In Livingston's statement to parents, he urged families to read the recently updated Pentucket Regional School District Drug and Alcohol Procedures detailing the school's zero tolerance policy and consequences.
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