#MiddleburyCT #Region15 #PHS #SouthburyCT
October 30, 2024
At 10:02 a.m. we received the following email from Region 15 Superintendent of Schools Joshua Smith:
“This morning at 9:48 Region 15 was informed that the Southbury Police Department received notice that a threat against Pomperaug High Schools was made through the Veteran’s hotline. The security personnel and administration of the high school were notified immediately and have placed the building on lockdown status while the Southbury Police Department and the region’s armed security officers determine the credibility of the threat. Under our lockdown procedures students will remain in their classrooms and no one will be permitted to enter or leave the building. While this follows a pattern of swatting incidents that have taken place across the state, we make no assumptions and treat every potential threat as serious and credible until we can prove otherwise.
We will provide updates and additional information as it becomes available.”
This was followed by a 10:43 a.m. email saying everything was OK. Smith emailed:
“At approximately 10:25 the Southbury Police Department and High School Administration were able to clear the building and determine that there is no credible threat. The lockdown status is lifted, and students will return to classes.
We have confirmed that two other school districts in our area received the same threat and follow a pattern that happened in another state yesterday. The Southbury Police Department have been able to confirm that the threat originated from out of state and that this fits with recent patterns of other swatting attacks.
We understand that these events can be traumatic and have been used as targeted attacks to exploit fear. While all of the security personnel involved in the threat assessment feel that there was never any credible danger, we will have additional police presence on site today to help alleviate fears and concerns that students, parents and staff may have.
Our school counselors and social workers are available should any student need support.
Thank you for your partnership as we navigate these complex and extremely frustrating attempts to create fear and panic in our communities.”
