Toy Gun Gives False Alarm at Roosevelt
(Ferndale Schools Press Release, Oct. 19, 2012)
Today at Roosevelt Primary School in Ferndale, a student reported to his teacher that he thought another student had brought what looked like a handgun to school in his backpack. The teacher responded right away by reporting the student’s information to her principal. The principal then immediately notified the Ferndale Police Department. When the police arrived, they quickly determined that the item is not real, it is a toy.
Ferndale Police Chief Timothy Collins said, “Although this was a potentially serious situation, school officials could not have handled this situation more appropriately. They followed all the proper protocol by isolating the item, calling the police, and allowing us to examine it. We determined that it is a toy.”
Roosevelt Principal Dina Rocheleau spoke to her students about the importance of reporting concerns like this to an adult, and never handling dangerous objects. She said: “I’m proud of our student for reporting his concerns to the teacher, and I treated him to lunch in the cafeteria to show my appreciation.”
The Ferndale Schools are taking this opportunity to encourage all families to remember how important it is to discuss safety measures with their children and how to handle incidents that concern them. First and foremost, if they observe a suspicious person, vehicle or circumstance, or a dangerous object (such as a knife or gun), either around school or in the area, they should alert an adult.
For more on Ferndale Public Schools visit http://www.ferndaleschools.org.