In the wake of two fights believed to have been hyped on social media posts, Veterans Memorial Middle School Principal Joe Coffey told parents there is zero tolerance on fighting, adding” more significant measures and consequences for fighting” are being implemented.”

In an email, Coffey cited what action students already face including filing charges with Warwick Police, out-of-school suspension, in-school suspension and a formal reinstatement hearing.

“We are now dramatically increasing the number of those consequences, each time, even for first offenders, but especially for repeat offenders,” Coffey writes.

Assistant Superintendent William McCaffrey said Tuesday that “a couple of incidents” took place during school hours. He said the school’s resource officer accompanied by two officers responded.

In response to an email, Col. Bradford Connor said SRO Rose Mitchel and school staff handled “all the incidents at Vets” and that cars were not dispatched to the schools. He listed the following incidents and arrests:

• Feb. 13, disorderly arrests of 13 year-old and 14-year old females
• Feb. 13, assault and disorderly arrest of 14 year-old female
• Feb. 14, Disorderly Conduct arrest of two 14 year-old males
• Feb. 16, Disorderly conduct arrests of 12 year-old and 13 year-old females

In addition, one girl was charged with assault and disorderly conduct.  He said no weapons were confiscated and that none of the students were transported to the hospital.

The chief as well as McCaffrey and Coffey say social media played a role in promoting the incidents.

None of them see this as gang related.

“Most fights are a result of ongoing feuds,” wrote Connor.  McCaffrey labeled the incidents as “middle school drama.”

Whether just drama or not, Coffey isn’t treating the incidents lightly.

In his letter to parents he writes, “students who participate now in fights at Vets will be considered ineligible for all social events for the remainder of the school year, to include any field trips, field day activities, and dances - to include the 8th grade social. We will only consider appeals to this restriction from students who demonstrate near perfect conduct for the remainder of the school year, and - even then - we plan to be stringent in allowing any such exceptions. If a student cannot demonstrate safety to others, then we cannot allow that child to risk harm to others at such activities and earned social events.”

He goes on to say students who record, share or post incidents electronically are considered active participants and “significant consequences will be imposed as a result.”

In addition, Coffey said when students return from winter vacation this coming Monday, there will be a series of grade-level student assemblies to “discuss this serious matter.”

Connor said police presence has been stepped up at peak student movement times that include 7:30 a.m., just prior to homeroom at 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and at 2:20 p.m. 

McCaffrey believes the fights were promoted on social media during the period the school was forced to close for two days because of a broken line connecting to the sewer system.  He said all was quiet at Winman Middle School and both high schools during the period.  Offering some comic relief, he suggested the youthful energy could be better placed.

“Get them to go out for the drama club,” he said.