Fake Gun Threat Puts Town Officials On Offensive

Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty and Superintendent of Schools Lisa A. Howard confirm that the Winthrop Police Department and Winthrop Public Schools have conducted a thorough investigation into a report that a student at Winthrop Middle School had shown another student a photograph of a firearm and threatened to harm others at the school.

“It was Friday night and two parents came in with some relevant information,” Delehanty said, adding that he contacted the superintendent and were in contact with each other all day Saturday and Sunday.

“We had a full-threat assessment meeting Sunday morning with Winthrop police, the Boston Emergency Services team, and the school psychiatrist,” Delehanty said, adding that they also had conversations with the School Threat Assessment Response Team. One of the members is the town of Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy. “We put certain protocols in place so school would be safe on Monday. Both of my kids are in the school., I felt very comfortable at that point,” she said.

As a result of the information and the ensuing investigation, which included interviewing a number of Winthrop Middle School students, eventually officials spoke with the 13-year-old source of the rumor. The student admitted to police Sunday evening that they made up the rumor. There was no threat to the middle school, and there is no danger to the community.

Howard sent out an electronic letter to parents at 7 p.m. Sunday night explaining the situation and letting them know that school would be in session Monday. Another letter was sent out on Monday reconfirming that there was no threat.

“Over the last two days, following national standards for threat assessment, the police and School departments have not found any evidence to suggest that this threat is real,” Howard said. “We do not differentiate between serious statements or those made in jest. We take all threats seriously.”

Chief Delehanty applauds the student who came forward to report the situation to authorities, so that the situation could be properly investigated and the truth could be determined. Students and anyone for that matter should remember “if they see something, say something.”

The investigation remains ongoing, however, and  Chief Delehanty indicates that the Winthrop Police Department will most likely forward the results of its portion of the investigation to the Winthrop Public Schools so that the school district can resolve the situation with the student who started the rumor at an administrative level.

Some parents were upset at getting information about the alleged threat on Sunday night when officials knew about it on Friday night. An optional parent meeting was held at the school Monday night.

Superintendent of Schools Lisa Howard said she and other officials were collaborating in an investigation about the situation.

“So we could provide accurate information to the public,” she said. “Student safety was first and foremost.”

As for possible discipline for the student, Howard said, “We will be determining student discipline based on our student handbook as it provided specific levels of discipline reflective of an any infraction. We are also committed to providing restorative justice so that our students have the opportunity to focus on repairing harm through inclusive processes that engage all stakeholders (peers, police, school staff, families and community). This shifts the focus of discipline from pure punishment to learning and from the individual to the school and home community.”