The Scoop on Trooper

Students and teachers watch attentively as Trooper demonstrates his skills.

In October, the Alexander-Smith Academy student body welcomed two surprise visitors: Trooper the detective canine and his human handler, Debbie Thomson. These two representatives from Interquest Detection Canines stopped by to explain and demonstrate the procedures they will follow in subsequent visits to ASA. 

Interquest Detection Canines, based in Houston, will return to ASA throughout the year to scan the school for contraband and to share important information about the dangers of drug use. The company trains their dogs to detect not only illicit drugs and alcohol, but also guns, ammunition and gunpowder.

On high alert, Trooper waits to perform his duties.

The dogs are also trained to alert their handlers when they detect prescription medications that are known to be abused. If contraband is detected, the canine alerts its handler through a “final passive response [of] sitting” near the suspicious odor. The representative responds to the alert by searching the areas in question: backpacks, lockers, bookshelves, automobiles, and even students.

Unlike the human nose, the dog’s nose is very defined, so the trained dog will detect even the slightest of smells, hidden in even the strongest of scents. As Debbie says, when a dog smells spaghetti sauce, it is actually smelling all of the individual ingredients: onions, garlic, tomatoes, etc.

Interquest Detection Canines offers other services as well; they evaluate existing policies to assist schools in developing “comprehensive detection and deterrent” programs and provide guidance for schools whose goal is to avoid “lockdown” environments.  In addition to contraband detection, Interquest Detection Canines works with local authorities to respond to and minimize the threat of explosives. 

With the help of Interquest Detection Canines, ASA will be a safer place throughout the year.