Police verify Safe2Say threat a hoax

Police verify Safe2Say threat a hoax

Good evening!

This message is to both inform and reassure you after a serious threat had been submitted to the Safe2Say Something tip line. The tip, from a seventh-grade student in Monroe County, with no known connections to the Quakertown area, has been verified as a hoax following exhaustive work throughout the weekend by Quakertown Borough Police, assisted by State Police, and several district administrators.

In the tip, the student mentioned a first name of a male student and said he would "shoot up" the Sixth Grade Center (SGC) on Monday. With much difficulty, Quakertown Police finally obtained a warrant to retrieve the IP address, and identify what School Resource Officer Bob Lee categorized as a "false report." Prior to securing the address, police spent hours this weekend interviewing SGC students with a certain first name at their homes, until gaining information which took the investigation to Monroe County. We recognize how frightening this must have been for both our students and their parents when the police knocked at their door. To these parents, I am most grateful for your support and cooperation, and regret that a hoax S2S tip made this necessary!

Had police not been able to determine the tip a hoax, you would have been advised by QCSD to expect a significant police presence at the SGC on Monday and why. We will always take all necessary precautions to protect our students, faculty and staff. I want to thank Quakertown Borough Police, State Police and the Bucks County District Attorney's office for their cooperation. They exhibited great team work.

Quakertown Community High School and Strayer Middle School students have been trained on Safe2Say. Since student training began, Quakertown has received and investigated more than 60 tips. SGC students are scheduled to receive a presentation on the program Friday.

Here's the presentation Assistant Superintendent Nancianne Edwards, our district's Safety Coordinator, gave to the School Board Thursday night. As a reminder, the Community Safety Committee will be meeting again this Thursday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. The committee has met for several months and will make its presentation to the School Board on March 28.

Thanks for taking the time to read this important message.

Bill Harner

Superintendent, QCSD

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @billharner

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