Dogs sniff around at TeWinkle

The Costa Mesa Police Department brought drug-sniffing dogs to TeWinkle Middle School on Wednesday morning, the first such inspection at any Costa Mesa campus this year.

According to Sgt. Phil Myers, who helped lead the investigation, the dogs identified 10 lockers that had suspicious scents. However, Myers said the scents came largely from residuals, and no actual drugs were found on the campus.

“The dogs’ olfactory senses are a million times more powerful than ours,” he explained. “It could have been left from a previous locker owner, and so on. When I left, they were looking into a couple of issues, but no major stores of narcotics were found.”

TeWinkle officials did not return calls seeking comment.

The 30-minute search took place in the boys’ locker room on Wednesday beginning around 10:30 a.m., during a period when students were out on the field during physical education class. At a later date, according to Lt. Karl Schuler, the dogs may return to inspect the girls’ lockers as well.

“Part of this is an element of surprise,” Schuler said. “We don’t want to go out there and advertise that we’re going to be there a certain day, or the campus will be as clean as can be.”

In March of 2005, the district announced plans to reinstate the use of drug-sniffing dogs on its campuses, after several years in which Newport-Mesa had abandoned the practice. The American Civil Liberties Union had filed a number of lawsuits nationwide regarding canine searches, but Newport-Mesa officials said the dogs were a helpful deterrent against drugs on campus.

TeWinkle was the first Costa Mesa campus the dogs inspected this year. Sgt. Bill Hartford of the Newport Beach Police Department said a team had visited Newport Harbor High School in February and April, but found no improper substances.

“I think the main thing ? the biggest benefit of having dogs on campus ? is that it’s a deterrent,” said TeWinkle school resource officer Jess Gilman. “If kids know the dogs can come on campus and will come on campus, they won’t bring the bad stuff to school.”