Police responded to multiple school threats around Connecticut

(WFSB) – On Wednesday, police across Connecticut responded to multiple school threats in New London, Middletown, Cromwell, and Columbia.

Officers arrived at New London High School for a report of a weapon-related incident.

The area was secured and a lockdown was initiated to protect students and staff.

Fortunately, the situation was quickly assessed and resolved, confirming that the school was safe.

However, the incident caused significant disruption to the school schedule during the final hours of the day.

“It inconveniences the whole system, the kids, the parents are very concerned,” said Cromwell resident Bill Hewitt.

The police department continues to investigate to ensure the safety and well-being of the school community.

In Middletown, police responded to a potential threat at Middletown High School, though most students had already been dismissed for the day.

Officers conducted a thorough search of the building to ensure the safety of staff and students participating in after-school programs.

It was determined that the threat was a swatting call aimed at disrupting the schools. There is no threat to public safety.

The investigation is ongoing.

Additionally, a lockdown occurred at Cromwell High School due to a swatting-type call, but it has since been lifted without incident.

Horace W. Porter School on 3 Schoolhouse Road in Columbia also went into lockdown after an individual allegedly threatened to harm students.

No injuries were reported, and police confirmed that all students and staff are safe at this time.

While police and schools train for the worst-case scenario, Chief Dennis Woessner of East Hampton police said these types of incidents take a toll on local police departments.

“It is a strain, We are a small town. We’re authorized strength of eighteen police officers and they are not all working days,” said Chief Woessner.

Dr Javeed Sukhera, the Chief of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital and the Institute of Living noted how these incidents are traumatizing students, staff, and parents.

“Any sort of suggestion that there might be a threat in a school, even the drills that we do are traumatizing in the context of public knowledge about deadly school shootings happening so frequently in America and in CT with the trauma of Sandy Hook still lingering in the minds of many people,” said Dr. Sukhera. “These types of threats are really a form of significant trauma for young people in CT and American schools.”