Vets evacuated following bomb threat

By John Howell
Posted 2/4/16

Thankfully, it wasn’t a typical February day. There could have been snow. The temperatures could have been in the 20s. Instead, temperatures were in the 50s and there was the threat of rain.

It …

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Vets evacuated following bomb threat

Posted

Thankfully, it wasn’t a typical February day. There could have been snow. The temperatures could have been in the 20s. Instead, temperatures were in the 50s and there was the threat of rain.

It was a far greater threat that had Warwick Police racing to Veterans High and the school administers and faculty evacuate students yesterday about noon.

Col. Stephen McCartney said the police command center received a computer-generated message at 11:48 a.m. that bombs had been planted in the boiler room and that people armed with nerve agents and wearing suicide vests would detonate the explosives if anyone tried to leave the school.

McCartney said police were aware threats of a similar nature have been received in the northeast and that Rogers High School in Newport had been targeted earlier yesterday.

Nonetheless, McCartney said police “responded in a traditional fashion,” first establishing there were no threatening individuals outside and “securing the exterior.” He said school personnel had already initiated their protocols and students were gathered at the bleachers to the football field. They were later relocated to Thayer Arena, where they were met by their parents, dismissed or boarded buses for home.

After ensuring the exterior of the school was secure, McCartney said police teamed up with school custodians and fire personnel to conduct a sweep of the building. Nothing suspicious was found and the building was declared secure at 1:15 p.m. The fire station adjacent to the school was used as a command center for operations.

The chief said the department would investigate the source of the threat and coordinate with the FBI.

While some wore no more than sweatshirts and with a wind it was chilly, students were well mannered, gaining the admiration of rink and pool manager James Dorney.

“The student body was so well behaved and all acted with calm and maturity through the whole time they were here at Thayer Arena. The faculty and staff did a great job as well keeping things organized and running smooth during a tough time. And lastly the parents that came to pick up their children acted with great calm and restraint during a scary event. Great job and most important glad all are safe,” he posted on Facebook.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    Even the Russians don't like the consolidation plan.

    Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    If there can be a positive about something as awful as this here it is:

    Everyone...everyone from the police to the teachers, to the parents, to the students did their jobs perfectly! No one went astray. No one got into a panic. No one misread the instructions. No one cut corners.

    It's a relief to know it was a false alarm and it's reassuring to know that if it ever happens for real, the people involved will all be well prepared.

    Perfectly done everyone. Perfectly done.

    Richard Corrente

    Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Mayer Corrente,

    The schools are used to running in panic mode. Give them an ordinary day and watch them melt.

    Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Report this