Schools take no chances

Beheading threat sends chill through community

John Howell
Posted 10/9/14

Student attendance was down dramatically as police were on the alert yesterday about an anonymous written threat – which mentioned beheading – against elementary schools in Warwick, Cranston and …

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Schools take no chances

Beheading threat sends chill through community

Posted

Student attendance was down dramatically as police were on the alert yesterday about an anonymous written threat – which mentioned beheading – against elementary schools in Warwick, Cranston and Johnston.

According to Warwick Police Chief Col. Stephen McCartney, the threat, which was first received by Johnston Police, did not name a specific school. After conferring Tuesday afternoon, school and municipal officials agreed to station police officers at each of their respective community’s schools and inform parents of the precaution.

McCartney said yesterday that the threat cited Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and Warwick Police would be at the schools all three days, unless there were developments altering the situation.

Warwick Superintendent Richard D’Agostino said yesterday morning that staff had been reminded to make sure doors are locked and visitors not let in without proper identification. He said offers of assistance came from the governor’s office and Commissioner of Education Deborah A. Gist.

A Connect-Ed message was issued to parents Tuesday, at about 6 p.m., informing them that a neighboring police department had received an anonymous threat against schools in a number of districts.

“Everybody wants to know what the threat was,” D’Agostino said.

While not officially confirmed until yesterday, rumors were rampant on social media and the Internet about the threat involving a beheading.

“It is difficult to determine the actions of the mentally ill individual responsible for this,” D’Agostino said.

McCartney called the letter “vaguely written” and its author “mindless” for having targeted the vulnerable elementary school population, and choosing a “beheading as the planned nature of violence.”

He speculated the intent was to create chaos.

The threat sent shivers through the community, with many parents choosing not to send their children to school.

As students filed into the all-purpose room at Hoxsie School, Principal Gary McCoombs estimated attendance about half what it normally is. Absentees appeared to run highest among the younger students, with only six of 24 kindergartners reporting for class.

While troubled by the threat, Paul White, the Warwick officer stationed at Hoxsie, found the assignment out of the ordinary. He said he is accustomed to dealing with teenagers, but not young children. He said he was delighted by the innocence of the younger kids, and in particular one girl who was thrilled to give Halloween decorations she made to her teachers.

Mayor Scott Avedisian, who visited a number of public and parochial schools, found attendance was off throughout the system.

“Parents are anxious, but the school department staff is doing a great job in reassuring them. The presence of a uniformed officer is very helpful. We are seeing an absentee rate of 25 to 30 percent in each school,” the mayor reported.

The mayor said he and McCartney would continue to visit schools today and tomorrow. Avedisian said updates on the situation would be posted on the city’s website and that he hopes attendance will pick up today and tomorrow, as parents realize that their children are safe.

As a precaution, D’Agostino said outdoor recess has been suspended for the remainder of the week.

Similar situations unfolded in Johnston and Cranston, with law enforcement personnel posted outside schools where attendance figures were down significantly.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, Schools Superintendent Dr. Judith Lundsten and newly appointed Police Chief Col. Michael Winquist held a press conference at Woodridge Elementary School to provide an update on the city’s response.

“We’ve been working constantly – frankly, since Sandy Hook – with our staff on safety precautions, how to deal with these kinds of issues,” Lundsten said.

Winquist, who recently served as second-in-command of the Rhode Island State Police, said it was important to continue with day-to-day activities while taking additional precautions.

“When these threats come in, we take them very serious. At the same time, we don’t want them to disrupt our daily life,” he said.

Fung said the added police presence at schools will remain in place as long as necessary.

In Johnston, Mayor Joseph Polisena said he made the rounds among the town’s schools on Wednesday, along with police and school leaders, to check on the situation.

“The magnitude of the letter was concerning. We don’t take chances,” he said. “It’s the unfortunate world in which we live now, but we did take the appropriate precautions.”

Dr. Bernard DiLullo, Johnston’s superintendent, said 42 percent of students at all grade levels were absent on Wednesday. School will continue to be held, he said, and he praised the district’s faculty and staff for their handling of the situation.

“We certainly understand students’ and parents’ anxiety,” he said.

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  • Drew

    That Paul guy is a top notch veteran. He came to my house once when someone stole my City issued trash barrels. He worked some leads but couldn't find who took them. Great guy nonetheless

    Thursday, October 9, 2014 Report this