Madison NORML

In Dane County, for example, any case involving paraphernalia or less than 25 grams of cannabis receives a citation. In Menasha, small-time pot possession means big trouble for offenders and big costs to taxpayers, without making the city safer. Menasha residents should be asking their civic leaders if they really think that in a time of financial crisis, with budgets strained, tax bases shrinking and growing unemployment, that major resources should be used to detect and target citizens using small quantities of cannabis.

Source: Appleton Post Crescent click here
January 2, 2009

MENASHA POLICE K-9 NETS QUICK DRUG ARRESTS

Donations start to pay off in unit's first days

By Michael King Post-Crescent staff writer

MENASHA — Paul Scheppf had an interesting job in the U.S. Air Force: refueling fighter jets or bombers flying 400 mph at 35,000 feet in the air.

But he thinks his latest job is pretty cool, too, and not just because he lives and works in sometimes-frigid Wisconsin.

The Menasha police officer now has a new partner joining him on his night shift patrol, thanks to the generosity of the community. Scheppf is the department's first K-9 handler in more than a decade and is now accompanied by a specially trained 2-year-old German shepherd named Gommez.

In the unit's first three nights on the job in mid-December, Gommez was responsible for four drug arrests.

It's the kind of impact that officials and residents had hoped to see.

His first assist came on his second night when he alerted the officer about a vehicle and a subsequent search found a marijuana pipe inside.

On his third night on duty, a Monday night, Gommez had a large role in three arrests.

The first occurred when another officer made a traffic stop and Scheppf drove to the scene for backup and a walk-around.

"He alerted on the ash tray and (officers) found some partially smoked marijuana joints in the ash tray. And he alerted on the back seat and found a partially smoked joint under the seat. The driver was arrested for possession of marijuana," Scheppf said.

Later that night, Appleton police asked for assistance in looking for a suspect at a Third Street apartment complex. The suspect was not located but the tenant granted permission for a search of his apartment and Gommez "found a relatively significant amount of marijuana in a dresser drawer in a bedroom and he found another bag of marijuana in the closet."

The 40-year-old man was arrested for felony possession of marijuana.

The third incident occurred when a lieutenant observed an 18-year-old Menasha man he knew was wanted on warrants and attempted a traffic stop. The man quickly pulled into a driveway and took off on foot.

"We didn't really do a track because of the (frigid) temperature and weather conditions," Scheppf said. "We knew who the driver was so it wasn't an issue of trying to identify (him)."

Gommez, however, did a search and "found in the vehicle partially smoked marijuana joints." The suspect, who is still at large on felony drug and weapons charges, will be referred on additional drug and bail-jumping charges.

Scheppf praised the narcotics detection training that took place since October at FoxTal training center in Black Creek. "He's trained marijuana, meth(amphetamine), cocaine, crack, Ecstasy and heroin," Scheppf said.

"In my opinion, you're going to see an instant change," Scheppf said. "In time it will certainly decrease the amount of drugs in Menasha."

Gommez also participated in tracking training, which will be completed with a two-week session in spring. Scheppf sees big benefits as well in tracking suspects who flee from burglaries or thefts in progress and elude officers by hiding.

Schools will benefit from Gommez, who will start making school visits next semester. Scheppf said schools are drug-free zones and, "I think the kids seeing the dog in school will keep it free from drugs."

Undoubtedly, Scheppf said the word will spread in the community about the successful drug searches.

"There's no doubt in my mind that they're telling their buddies that the dog walked around my vehicle and found dope," he said. "It's certainly going to be a deterrent."

A collaboration of residents and businesses raised $47,592 to fund the purchase, equipping and training of the unit.

"Just to know that the community stepped up and donated all that money to make a difference it's really gratifying," said Scheppf, who drives a new Ford Expedition, specially designed to accommodate his sidekick. Part of the backseat was removed and replaced with a kennel.

(snip)

Continues: click here