K-9 Officer Blitz helps with drug prevention and awareness

When it comes to drug prevention and awareness, K-9 Officer Blitz is truly top dog.

Blitz is a Certified Narcotics Detection Dog who joined School Police Services in May 2014 as part of the district’s ongoing effort to eliminate dangerous drugs from our campuses.

Since joining the School Police Canine Program, Blitz has been working like a dog. Along with his partner and best friend, School Police Officer John Pasenelli, Blitz has conducted more than 70 unannounced sniffs on middle and high school campuses at the request of the school principals. Blitz does not sniff individuals but passively indicates that he's detected a narcotic odor if he comes across an odor, regardless of where the odor emanates. All visits are in accordance with city, state and federal laws.

Blitz and Officer Pasenelli have also been passionately sharing School Police Service’s drug prevention and awareness messages to more than 13,000 K-12 students as well as over 3,400 community members at events such as National Night Out, Crime Stoppers Light the Night, Girl Scout Troops and the Kiwanis Club of San Diego. Their message to San Diego Unified students and the community is clear: Keep our students safe and our campuses drug free.

School Police obtained Blitz through a $60,000 grant from the San Diego Police Foundation. The monies were earmarked to purchase a narcotics detection canine, equipment and training. School Police sought the grant for this program to support middle and high principals who wanted the services but could not afford them due to limited and reduced budgets. School Police is now able to provide this valuable program free to the district along with vital age-specific anti-drug education.

During the summer months, Blitz will be doing his homework by training hard for next school year. He and Officer Pasenelli are looking forward to visiting with more students next year to talk about the importance of saying no to drugs.

For more information about the School Police Canine Program and how you can invite Blitz to your school for anti-drug education and assemblies, visit www.sandi.net/Page/55995.