Searches Find No Drugs in Hopatcong Schools

No drugs were discovered when Hopatcong's and underwent random drug searches Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, Sussex County Assistant Prosecutor Tom Reid said.

Each school was locked down for more than an hour during the searches, which were led by Reid, Vernon Township Police Detective William Gebhardt and Vernon's drug-sniffing dog.

"These type of suspicion-less searches by police officials are prudent exercises,” Hopatcong schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said in a release, “and are designed to impress upon students and the community our commitment to a safe and secure school environment.”

Maranazno said in a phone interview Wednesday morning that the searches were tightly-held secrets to maximize their impact. Only the principals of each school were notified prior to the searches, Maranzano said. The Hopatcong Police Department also wasn't told exactly when the searches would happen, though the searches were cleared by the department months ago, Maranzano said.

Hopatcong Police Chief John Swanson said his department going unnotified "wasn't a major concern. Just so long as we were notified just prior to the event. The less people who know, the less likely information would be accidentally disseminated."

Maranzano said students were sequestered into classrooms that were kept closed, until they were searched.

Reid said the procedure went smoothly.

"I believe it went well," he said. "It's always a matter of practice. That's why they practice these things routinely."

Maranzano said the searches were for the students' well-being.

"The facts support our effort to free schools from any item that represents a threat to the common health, safety, and welfare of students.”  Maranzano said in the release. “Generally speaking our students are well-behaved and conduct themselves with a high regard for the general welfare of other students in Hopatcong.  From time-to-time it is necessary to demonstrate the authority and responsibility that school officials have to ensure the school climate is safe and secure.  That is the reason for such routine searches."