WATERTOWN, Conn. — Swift Middle School in Watertown is on a two-hour delayed opening this morning as police investigate an overheard comment that threatened violence at the school.
Police said investigators and the Watertown Board of Education are investigating the comment which stated there would be an act of violence at the school Thursday; they also said the comment was uncorroborated.
Chief Bernegger released the following statement Thursday afternoon
A Swift Middle School student reported to the Watertown Police Department yesterday (10/13/21) evening that he/she heard another student in the hallway say something to the effect that the school was going to ‘get shot up tomorrow’ (10/14/21). The Watertown Police Department and the Watertown Public School District thoroughly investigated this alleged comment. There are no other known witnesses. WPD and WPS are confident that this alleged comment does not constitute a credible threat to the school. Absent further information, arrests in this case are not expected.”
Superintendent Dr. Alison Villanueva said in a letter to the community:
"As you know, the Watertown Public Schools' top priority is the safety of all of our students. In this regard we take any information we receive that may be a threat to any one of our schools extremely seriously and work closely with all of our community partners like the Watertown Police Department and other emergency responders in varying situations. We carefully investigate even the smallest piece of information to make sure that all possibilities of threat are eliminated to ensure the safety of our students."
The two-hour delay was out of an abundance of caution by the Board of Education, according to officials, to provide additional time for the investigation.
Additional security will also be on campus today.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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