To:
[email protected]
Subject:
RMHS Canine Search Update
Reply-To:
[email protected]
A message from READING SCHOOL DISTRICT
The message below is a joint press release from the Reading Public Schools and the Reading Police Department:
At approximately nine o’clock this morning, the Middlesex County Sherriff’s Office K-9 Unit, in cooperation with the Reading Police Department and the Reading Public Schools, conducted a lockdown and canine search of Reading Memorial High School.
All parking lots, common areas, lockers, and several random classrooms were searched in accordance with proper legal procedures and the Reading School Committee Policy JIH on Search and Seizure. This lockdown and search drill was the result of extensive planning with school and police personnel and every effort was made to minimize the disruption to instruction. The lockdown procedure took approximately 25 minutes.
Our continued goal in our schools is to provide a safe environment for your children; where they are not exposed to unlawful and harmful activities such as illegal substance possession.
The canines that were used today are trained to search for illegal narcotics. They are part of a highly skilled K-9 unit that conducts school searches throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Similar drills have been held in the last few years at high schools in North Reading, Wilmington, and Melrose.
During the search, no “alerts” were discovered in the school and two “alerts” were discovered in the parking lots. An “alert” occurs when canines are able to detect an odor consistent with illegal narcotics. In the “alerts” identified by the canines, no illegal narcotics were found during the search by Reading Memorial High School Administration. The School Department will continue to work with the Reading Police Department to monitor the issue of illegal substances on campus and will authorize a repeat search if we feel it would help in our efforts to maintain a positive learning environment.
We hope that you will understand our position on this issue and will be supportive of our proactive steps to maintain a safe school environment. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Police Chief James Cormier at the Reading Police Department at 781-944-1212 or Superintendent of Schools John Doherty at 781-944-5800.
This e-mail has been sent to you by READING SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform READING SCHOOL DISTRICT either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 781-944-5800.
