Beren
Moderator Emeritus
http://post-gazette.com/pg/05175/528053.stm
An undercover Butler County police officer posing as a transfer student at Seneca Valley High School spent two months this year hanging out at lockers, taking tests and living the life of a teen-ager in an attempt expose drug activity on campus, police and school officials revealed at a press conference this morning.
Len Keller, Jackson Township police chief, said in the weeks between the end of February and early May, the undercover officer bought drugs from one adult from Allegheny County who police say is a supplier to students in the district. Police also labeled one student, a junior who is not being identified, as a supplier.
The investigation, which Keller called the first of its kind in Western Pennsylvania, revealed at least 10 people who are connected to either the sale, use or distribution of controlled substances. Slightly more than half of them are Seneca Valley students, he added.
The identities of those involved are being withheld because the investigation is continuing and court cases are pending, the chief said.
The investigation revealed students were using a variety of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD and prescription drugs including such pain killers as Tylenol, Oxycontin and Valium.
Keller stressed no drug deals occurred on campus and only a minimal amount of drugs was found to be present on students during school hours.
"I don't think the drug problem at Seneca Valley is any worse than at any other school," Keller said.
Police and school officials began talking about inserting an undercover officer into the high school in January after rumors of heavy drug use on campus and drug trafficking got back to Superintendent Donald Tylinski.
Soon thereafter, the Butler County District Attorney's Office and that office's drug task force got involved, Keller said. Each entity contributed money to the $10,000 investigation.
Tylinski and high school Principal Matthew McKinley were the only officials who knew about the undercover officer's presence in the school.
School board President Dean Berkebile was told about the drug investigation but wasn't given details, Keller said.
Last night, the rest of the district's school board members learned about the extent of the officer's infiltration, Berkebile said.
At that point, "There was unanimous approval for the investigation," he added.
Keller, who called the investigation unique, said the undercover officer was a Jackson Township police officer. He would not say if the officer was a man or a woman and would not reveal an age.
The officer's safety was a consideration when the joint decision to terminate the investigation was made, Keller said.
Keller and Tylinski said the investigation was a success and said they would do it again.
"We broke some ground here and did something unique that I think was very effective," Keller said.
An undercover Butler County police officer posing as a transfer student at Seneca Valley High School spent two months this year hanging out at lockers, taking tests and living the life of a teen-ager in an attempt expose drug activity on campus, police and school officials revealed at a press conference this morning.
Len Keller, Jackson Township police chief, said in the weeks between the end of February and early May, the undercover officer bought drugs from one adult from Allegheny County who police say is a supplier to students in the district. Police also labeled one student, a junior who is not being identified, as a supplier.
The investigation, which Keller called the first of its kind in Western Pennsylvania, revealed at least 10 people who are connected to either the sale, use or distribution of controlled substances. Slightly more than half of them are Seneca Valley students, he added.
The identities of those involved are being withheld because the investigation is continuing and court cases are pending, the chief said.
The investigation revealed students were using a variety of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD and prescription drugs including such pain killers as Tylenol, Oxycontin and Valium.
Keller stressed no drug deals occurred on campus and only a minimal amount of drugs was found to be present on students during school hours.
"I don't think the drug problem at Seneca Valley is any worse than at any other school," Keller said.
Police and school officials began talking about inserting an undercover officer into the high school in January after rumors of heavy drug use on campus and drug trafficking got back to Superintendent Donald Tylinski.
Soon thereafter, the Butler County District Attorney's Office and that office's drug task force got involved, Keller said. Each entity contributed money to the $10,000 investigation.
Tylinski and high school Principal Matthew McKinley were the only officials who knew about the undercover officer's presence in the school.
School board President Dean Berkebile was told about the drug investigation but wasn't given details, Keller said.
Last night, the rest of the district's school board members learned about the extent of the officer's infiltration, Berkebile said.
At that point, "There was unanimous approval for the investigation," he added.
Keller, who called the investigation unique, said the undercover officer was a Jackson Township police officer. He would not say if the officer was a man or a woman and would not reveal an age.
The officer's safety was a consideration when the joint decision to terminate the investigation was made, Keller said.
Keller and Tylinski said the investigation was a success and said they would do it again.
"We broke some ground here and did something unique that I think was very effective," Keller said.
