Henderson police search middle school as part of anti-drug effort
Multiple law enforcement agencies in Henderson, Kentucky, conducted a "K-9 walkthrough" of North Middle School Monday morning in a search for illegal drugs.
The operation, which the Henderson Police Department disclosed in a news release, comes as city and county officials grapple with the continued spread of fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid that has caused the number of overdoses in Henderson to surge in recent weeks.
HPD Lt. Stuart L. O'Nan said the Henderson County School Corporation "worked closely" with police, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office and the Indiana State Police to conduct the search, which reportedly targeted lockers and classrooms.
"The search was coordinated (in an effort) to provide a safe and secure environment for the children," the department's news release states.
The HPD publicized the operation, in part, to explain why Henderson residents may have observed a large law enforcement presence at North Middle School Monday morning.
A spokesperson for the Henderson County School Corporation did not respond to a phone call and voice message seeking comment about the search.
Henderson's renewed approach to fentanyl
In mid January, the HPD held a news conference to discuss what chief Sean McKinney described as a "spike" in overdose cases. At the time, McKinney said a particularly potent batch of fentanyl had caused at least 14 overdoses and four deaths since Jan. 1.
At the news conference, McKinney outlined a suite of new policies he said are designed to reduce the number of overdoses, expand access to substance abuse treatment and crackdown on the supply of illicit fentanyl.
One such initiative is a partnership between the HPD and River Valley Behavioral Health: In late January, the two organizations distributed free doses of Narcan - which can reverse an opioid overdose - to more than 150 Henderson residents.
Henderson Mayor Brad Staton said illicit opioids are a "very serious issue" facing the city and, in January, vowed that local officials would "not stand idly by while there is a threat that is killing our people."
McKinney said the HPD would expand its existing drug education efforts at local schools and add two additional, full-time narcotics detectives. The department is also redoubling its Angel Initiative, a nationwide framework that offers "an alternative escape to those battling addiction" by helping them access treatment.
The HPD did not divulge if Monday's search at North Middle School turned up any illicit substances, and O'Nan confirmed the operation did not target other school safety issues, such as illicit firearms. He said more K-9 sweeps "are likely to occur in our community throughout the school year."
Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com
This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson police search middle school as part of anti-drug effort
