Police respond to multiple threats at Connecticut schools

(WFSB) – Connecticut police responded to multiple threats at schools in New London, Middletown, Cromwell and Columbia on Wednesday.

Officers responded to New London High School for a report of a weapons incident.

The area has been secured and containment has been put in place to protect students and staff.

Fortunately, the situation was quickly assessed and resolved, confirming that the school was safe.

However, the incident caused significant disruption to the school timetable during the final hours of the day.

“It’s disruptive to the whole system, kids and parents are very worried,” Cromwell resident Bill Hewitt said.

The police department continues to investigate to ensure the safety and well-being of the school community.

In Middletown, police responded to a potential threat at Middletown High School, even though most students had already been dismissed for the day.

Officers conducted a thorough search of the building to ensure the safety of staff and students participating in after-school programs.

The threat was determined to be a blunt call aimed at disrupting schools. There is no threat to public safety.

The investigation is ongoing.

Additionally, a lockdown occurred at Cromwell High School due to a crush call, but it has since been lifted without incident.

Horace W. Porter School, located at 3 Schoolhouse Road in Columbia, was also closed after an individual allegedly threatened to harm students.

No injuries were reported and police confirmed all students and staff were safe at this time.

While police and schools train for a worst-case scenario, East Hampton Police Chief Dennis Woessner said these types of incidents take a toll on local police departments.

“It’s a tension, we’re a small town. We are an authorized strength of eighteen police officers and not all of them are business days,” said Chief Woessner.

Dr. Javeed Sukhera, chief of psychiatry at Hartford Hospital and the Institute of Living, noted how these incidents traumatize students, staff and parents.

“Any suggestion that there might be a threat in a school, even the drills we conduct, is traumatic in the context of public knowledge of deadly school shootings that occur so frequently in America and in Connecticut, with the trauma of Sandy Hook still lingering in the minds of many people,” said Dr. Sukhera “These types of threats are actually a significant form of trauma for young people in schools across CT and the United States. .”