By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven residents were alarmed on Friday, 11/2/18, when several police cruisers entered the grounds of Fairhaven High School, prompting a flurry of posts on Facebook about possible danger at the school. According to the Fairhaven Police Department and FHS principal Andy Kulak, the incident lasted 15-20 minutes and the threat was deemed to be a rumor.
Just before 11 a.m., a student had a medical emergency in a classroom. The room was cleared to allow medical personnel to treat the student.
“As a result, a rumor was generated that there was a possible threat to safety within the building,” wrote Mr. Kulak in a letter to parents.
At 11 a.m., the school issued a “Stay Put protocol in the building,” he wrote.
“This lasted for approximately 15-20 minutes while we investigated that threat, in partnership with local law enforcement,” he wrote. “Our investigation confirmed that there was no threat to the safety of any individual in the building.”
According to Fairhaven Police spokesperon Lt. Kevin Kobza, a “rumor was generated that there was a student in the school with a gun.”
He said while the students were out of the classroom, a student heard someone say there was a student with a gun in the library. The student who heard the comment, texted a parent, who then called the police department, and they responded accordingly.
The School Resource Officer was on scene, said Lt. Kobza.
“It was a false rumor that was generated, and that generated some concern,” he said.
Lt. Kobza also said that other rumors can also be put to rest. Although he would not comment on the nature of the medical issue, he said it was not a suicide threat.
“There was no firearm, there were no threats of suicide,” he said. “It was a medical issue. The paramedics were called and transported the student to the hospital.”
He said no arrests were made.
“It was not done with malicious intent,” said Lt. Kobza, adding that it was simply a student who heard something, and the parent called the police.
The reporting student was questioned by the police.
“We checked it out and it turned out to be nothing,” he said.
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