JAMESTOWN – All schools in the Jamestown School District were temporarily put in lockout protocol following what school officials call an “implied threat” that came Thursday morning.
According to school communications coordinator Cathy Panebianco, “District buildings were placed on lockout Thursday morning at 9:55 a.m. due to an implied threat to the district. As a precautionary measure, district buildings were secured from outside visitors through the lockout.”
Panebianco also said that the police were involved with investigating the incident and the lockout was lifted a short time later.
The lock out is designed to prevent any unauthorized individuals or individuals from entering school property. In the meantime classes withing the schools continue as normal.
According to Jamestown Police, at approximately 9 a.m. Washington Middle School administrators received a tip from a concerned parent of a possible threat to Jamestown schools. School staff immediately notified the assigned School Resource Officer (SRO) who informed Jamestown Police Command Staff.
Specific details about the threat were not disclosed.
Police say an immediate investigation was initiated while administrators from the School Superintendent’s Office and Police Command Staff coordinated safety measures. The lockout for all schools in the district was initiated until all individuals involved in the possible threat were located by police. Within an hour of the lockout the individuals were in police custody.
The investigation is ongoing with Juvenile Detectives and the Middle School SRO from the Jamestown Police Department. Due to the age of the individuals involved with the threats the identities of all involved are being withheld.
“As the Jamestown Public Schools’ number one priority is the safety of our students and staff, we will always err on the side of caution in any situation,” Panebianco said.
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