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12-21-2021 10:46pm
Police and School Find No Credible Threat after Student Reports Threatened Acts of Violence
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Photo by Wikimedia Images from Pixabay
On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, Westwood Police investigated a student's recent report that another student at Thurston Middle School made comments regarding threatening acts of violence over one month ago. The concern was raised last Wednesday contemporaneously with a nationwide Tik Tok trend, or Tik Tok “challenge,” in which threats to school safety for schools throughout the U.S. were rumored for Friday, December 17, 2021.
In an email letter to Westwood Public Schools families on Thursday, December 16, 2021, Superintendent Emily Parks stated, “The safety of the community is our highest priority. Threats against our schools are never, in any circumstances, whatever the tone or intent, acceptable.” She noted that specific threats are investigated by the district with interviews, review of social media, and working with police.
“[W]e are parents ourselves and keenly understand the trust that parents place in school leaders to keep their children safe,” she wrote.
On Friday, December 17, 2021, Westwood Public Schools increased police presence in and around school buildings as an added precaution. Police were observed on campus at drop-off in the morning.
Because the investigation is a sensitive one that involves juveniles, Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy declined to state more, but provided the information that Westwood Police “concur” with the assessment of the principal of Thurston Middle School that the report raised no credible threat to the middle school.
Superintendent Parks encouraged families to reach out if their child is concerned and needs extra support at school. She also requested that families notify school staff or police immediately if their child “becomes aware of any potential threat made by an individual or posted to social media or anywhere else.” She requested that families monitor their children’s social media activity and ensure that “proper behavior” is taking place online.
