More News

School officials, police take June 6 threat seriously

Thursday, June 8, 2006

Enhanced police presence was noticeable at most Carroll County high schools on Tuesday.

Extra patrols by local law enforcement were conducted in response to rumors that originated at Liberty High School in Eldersburg that an incident, such as a shooting, was going to happen on June 6.

Rumors of the end of the world and the return of the devil circulated the area, including at schools, keeping administrators on alert. In the end, the day, 6-6-06, turned out to be one of the quietest of the school year.

According to Larry Faries, supervisor security for the school system, more than 50 officers from the Maryland State Police, Westminster barrack and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office patrolled county schools, primarily high schools.

‘‘They were looking for anything suspicious but they found nothing,” Faries said. ‘‘We advertised the fact [on Monday] that they were going to be there [Tuesday] and everybody knew.”

Faries said state troopers monitored activity at Century, Liberty, South Carroll and Westminster high schools while the sheriff’s office patrolled Francis Scott Key, North Carroll and Winters Mill high schools.

According to Liberty High School Assistant Principal Bryan Pawlicki, 80 percent of students attended school on June 6 to take final exams.

‘‘We’re going to repeat the schedule tomorrow so that students can get their exams in,” Pawlicki said Wednesday.

An assembly was held for students and parents last week to alert them to the rumors and tell them about enhanced security measures. Students were given the option to skip school on June 6 if they did not feel comfortable attending and would be allowed to make up their exams today. Pawlicki said that several officers were assigned to patrol the school all day and others rotated through during the day.

‘‘It was a very quiet day,” he said. ‘‘We had a lot of community people in and out and it was nice to see them. With that kind of police presence, we expected it to be quiet.”

Faries credits positive communication between police and the school system for avoiding a problem.

‘‘We very much appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement to keep our students safe,” Faries said.

School administrators were on alert earlier in the week and some took proactive approaches about the rumors that originated at Liberty several weeks ago.

In a letter sent to parents via eSchoolnewsletter on Monday, Century High School Principal Andrew Cockley explained the efforts to maintain a safe campus. Cockley wrote that in light of the rumors circulating throughout the school system that something was going to happen on June 6, Century High School would have two uniformed state troopers and an officer in plain clothes assigned to the school.

‘‘This presence has begun already and will help provide a safe environment for everyone as we get closer to the end of the school year,” Cockley wrote to parents. ‘‘This information is being shared with you now and will be announced to students later today to let everyone know the reason for their presence, as well as to let students know that this is not the time to make inappropriate comments.”

Staff at Mount Airy Elementary School also sent an eSchoolnewsletter notice Monday alerting parents that the school system’s security office has asked them to be aware of any irregular behavior on June 6.

‘‘All staff has been advised to keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious activity and the back doors to the building will be locked,” the e-mail read.

All after school activities were to proceed as scheduled and did.