A Bristol County Sheriff’s Office K-9 aids in the protective sweep after the Acushnet Public Schools received an anonymous emailed threat on Saturday, 11/25/23. Photo courtesy of Acushnet Public Schools.
Press Release
Acushnet Superintendent of Schools Paula J. Bailey and Police Chief Christopher R. Richmond, announce that Acushnet Elementary School and Ford Middle School were swept by police, including police K-9 units, over the weekend after the school district received an emailed bomb threat.
On Saturday afternoon, Superintendent Bailey, through a school district website form, received an emailed bomb threat. Following established district safety and security procedures, she immediately notified Chief Richmond and School Resource Officer Derek Cathcart.
The schools were evacuated, and the only personnel working on campus at the time were custodial staff and employees of ServPro cleaning and restoration, which was performing a previously announced deep cleaning at Acushnet Elementary School.
Superintendent Bailey reported to campus, and an investigation was launched by Acushnet Police and their mutual aid partners, including K-9 units from the Massachusetts State Police and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office. A full sweep of both buildings revealed nothing suspicious. Acushnet Police are also in contact with the State Police Fusion Center. It was determined that the email was a hoax, mirroring countless other threats received by school districts around the nation recently.
“Unfortunately, these kinds of anonymous email threats have become far too common nationally, but we continue to take every threat seriously and respond in a consistent manner,” Chief Richmond said.
Police have determined that there is no danger, but out of an abundance of caution, families, students, faculty and staff may notice an increased police presence on campus.
“We are grateful to Chief Richmond and their law enforcement partners for their prompt and efficient response this weekend,” Superintendent Bailey said. “We followed our district’s safety protocols, and as always we take every threat seriously. The safety of our schools is paramount.”
The cleaning at the Elementary School later resumed. Classes resumed on Monday.
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