UPDATED Dr. Jones emailed families to say the district had been alerted that the social media message has been confirmed to be not credible for Greenwich. It was discovered that the message had originated in another state and was shared locally. The “Secure the Building” has been lifted for all of our buildings and normal school operations have resumed.
On Tuesday morning Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr.Toni Jones emailed families to say that Greenwich Police had alerted school administration to “a vague threat to Stamford/Greenwich and Central Middle School on social media.”
She said while it was not believed to be credible, the police take every threat seriously and will have additional patrols for the remainder of the day.
She added that out of an abundance of caution, the district placed all of the schools in a “Secure the Building,” where teaching and normal school operations will continue, but outdoor activities have been suspended.
“As a reminder, our school buildings are secure, with access only granted to staff and students,” Jones added. “There are multiple security cameras at each building, covering the exterior and interior hallways of the schools.”
Jones said the district benefits from an amazing partnership with the Greenwich Police Dept and promised to send updates on the situation when they become available.
Lt Lynden Latiak emailed the media to say that while no specific threats were identified, every precaution was being taken to ensure the safety of the Town’s students and staff members.
“Working closely with the Board of Education and other Town Departments, the Police Department has determined that this was a swatting incident and that the post originated in Nashville, Tenn. with the ‘Stamford now Greenwich’ line superimposed over the original,” he said, adding that the Maury County Sherriff’s Dept had already identified two suspects who were taken into custody for the original post.
“The Police Department understands the stress this can place on students, faculty, and families,” Latiak added. “Extra patrols will be conducted throughout the day to help alleviate concerns. The safety of our residents remains of the utmost importance to this Department.”