Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
East Bridgewater Police Respond to School Threat
EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen and Superintendent Elizabeth Legault report that East Bridgewater schools were placed in a lock down Thursday morning due to a threat that was made through a smartphone application.
There is currently no immediate threat to the schools and police cleared the scene as of 10:15 a.m.
At approximately 7:15 a.m., East Bridgewater Police responded to East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School, 143 Plymouth St., after being notified of a threat that was made toward the school via the anonymous tip messaging app StopIt. The StopIt app allows people to anonymously send messages which get sent to school administrators.
The threat toward the school made reference to the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.
Upon learning of the message, school officials immediately notified police and the junior/senior high school was placed into lock down mode. Other schools in town had their students shelter in place out of an abundance of caution.
A message was sent by school officials to parents notifying them of the situation.
East Bridgewater Police thoroughly searched each floor of the junior/senior high school, including all lockers, classrooms and students’ backpacks and personal belongings. Through the subsequent investigation it was determined that the threat was not credible.
“We searched throughout the school and did not locate anything that would verify that the threat was credible,” Chief Allen said. “We are confident that there is no danger to the school community, students, faculty or staff.”
The school district is investigating the incident with support from East Bridgewater Police.
“The district takes all threats seriously and will take all precautionary and necessary measures to contain the possibility of a threat and to keep all students, staff, and personnel safe,” Superintendent Legault said.
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