Ocean County's war on drug abuse today reached into the halls of Jackson Liberty High School.

Entrance to Jackson Liberty High School
Entrance to Jackson Liberty High School (Google street view)
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Police from several municipalities, K-9 teams from the Ocean County Sheriff's office and county investigators swarmed the corridors in an effort coordinated between district administrators and County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

Searches have taken place at various schools throughout the county during the academic year. Advance general notification is never given.

Parents reportedly were advised via e-mail.The school district web site contains no companion advisory on its facing page.

Findings are never disclosed. Coronato has said that the raids signal no specifically-defined problem. Discoveries of contraband become matters among students, parents, school officials and investigators.

However, followup searches in previously-targeted schools serve as a reminder to potential drug dealers that they can't assume the heat is off, Coronato has indicated.

A published report that neither students nor teachers were led to believe it was a shelter-in-place drill is neither confirmed nor denied by Prosecutor's Office spokesman Al Della Fave, who issued the following response:

"OC Police K9's stopped by Jackson Liberty High School this AM to assure a Drug Free School Zone.

The K9's and their Humans assuring a safe learning environment for our children today were:
Brutus - Sgt. Jim Reilly of Toms River PD
Gunnar - Ptl. Rich Buhowski of Toms River PD
Nash - S.O. Theodore Wielichoski of the OC Sheriff's Department
Kane - S.O. James Kohout of the OC Sheriff's Department 
Bia - Ptl. Anthony Carafa of Allenhurst PD
Loki - Ptl. Paschal Drew of Point Pleasant Beach PD

OCPO thanks the above departments for making their K9s and Humans available for such an important cause, as well as, the Jackson Township Police Department, Jackson Township Schools Superintendant, administrators and teachers for supporting today's operation."

The Prosecutor's next drug-abuse awareness forum takes place May 7 in the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. Former NBA star Chris Herren describes his struggle and eventual victory over addiction in a program that organizers advise is restricted to students in grade six and up, with parents and guardians.

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