Brick Township High School Swept For Drugs: Prosecutor

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township High School was the subject of a drug sweep this week, part of the ongoing efforts of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office to fight the drug problems in the county.

The sweep occurred Thursday morning, prosecutor's office spokesman Al Della Fave said, and included six K9s that are trained to sniff out drugs.

Della Fave said the K9 drug detectors and handlers who participated Thursday were:

• Brick Township Patrolman Keith Prendeville and K9 Max
• Brick Township Patrolman Dan Fogarty and K9 Rigby
• Little Egg Harbor Patrolman Matt Pretty and K9 Sully
• OC Sheriff's Officer Kevin Fennessy and K9 Stosh
• OC Sheriff's Officer Michael Fioretino and K9 Utah
• Stafford Township Patrolman Chris Smith and K9 Ollie

Della Fave said a drug sweep usually takes about an hour, and hall lockers and locker rooms are swept.

"As pointed out in the past, we do not discuss our finds with media or public," Della Fave said.

"When something is found we advise the school officials and parents so that they will be aware of an issue and can take immediate corrective action. We don't want this to become a “what is the worst high school" thing," Della Fave said. "It is being done to assure a drug-free school zone and a safe learning environment for Ocean County students."

However, at Thursday evening's Board of Education meeting, interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella reported the sweep to the board and the public, and said no drugs were found during the sweep, adding that he was proud to be able to say that.

The prosecutor's office sweeps schools throughout the county over the course of the school year.

K9 units enter Brick Township High School Thursday morning. Photo courtesy of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office