Fairfield Schools Update: Staff Credited With Keeping Students Safe: Schools Chief

By Vincent Salzo and Brian McCready, Patch Staff

All Fairfield schools were sent into lockdown for hours Friday morning after a caller phoned in a series of anonymous threats, which referenced the use of bombs and guns against several schools.

Police officers searched each of the town’s schools and, around 11:15 a.m., declared that no credible threats had been found and announced plans to dismiss students early.

Police said officers remained at all schools to ensure students got onto the buses safely. Fairfield’s private schools were also involved in the lockdown. Police and school officials said all students made it home safely and without any incident.

The phoned-in threats specifically targeted Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Fairfield Warde High School, and Holland Hill Elementary School, according to reports and police.

Some of the calls went to the town’s 911 Emergency Communications Center, while others went directly to the schools.

Fairfield police released the following information regarding the timing of the phone threats.

First at 8:57 a.m. police received a call from an unknown male who indicated he had killed people, taken hostages, had a bomb, and was going to kill more people. Officers responded to the Black Rock Turnpike address and found no activity of any criminal nature.

At 9:26 a.m., an elementary school in Fairfield received a call from an unidentified male who indicated he was coming to the school with a gun. The school immediately went into lockdown.

At 9:27 a.m., a high school in Fairfield received a call from an unknown male who indicated he was coming to the school with a gun. The school immediately went into lockdown.

At 9:28 a.m., a high school in Fairfield received a call from an unknown male who indicated he was coming to the school with a gun. The school immediately went into lockdown.

At 9:30 a.m. the entire school system in the town of Fairfield was placed in lockdown.

Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara said at a noon press conference that all of the town’s schools are “safe and secure” and police are continuing to investigate the threats that led to the lockdown.

‘Swatting Incident’?

The school threats case took on even more urgency because a caller also claimed to have a pipe bomb and a shotgun and was holding hostages in the Black Rock Turnpike area but the address given, 285 Black Rock Turnpike, doesn’t exist. The caller also claimed to have killed someone, reports state.

Police said they went door-to-door, found nothing suspicious and believe it was likely a fake call meant to distract them, according to reports.

MacNamara said it was “too early to tell” if it was a swatting incident and police are still investigating if all of the calls came from the same person. Police are also asking anyone with information to contact the department’s detective bureau at 203-254-4840.

Fairfield was ‘Prepared’

“We train for this, we prepare for this,” MacNamara said during a press conference at Fairfield Warde High School. “All of our schools were secured in a lockdown fashion and emergency services personnel, both fire and police, responded to all of our schools to secure them.

“All of our school children in the town of Fairfield at this particular moment are safe and secure.”

Superintendent of Schools David Title said the schools followed the early dismissal schedule and all after-school activities, including sports games, were postponed to Saturday. The Fairfield Warde and Ludlowe football teams are scheduled to play on Saturday afternoon.

“My heartfelt thanks for your professionalism in handling today’s events,” Superintendent of Schools David G. Title said in a notice to staff that was sent at 5 p.m. Friday. “Our regular practice of doing lockdown drills in every school really paid off. Because of your actions, our students remained safe throughout the entire event. Even though we practice lockdowns, the ’real thing’ is very stressful, especially when we are dealing with multiple potential threats to more than one school.

“I am thankful to the Fairfield Police and Fire Departments for their support of our schools. In case you were not aware, multiple police officers and other public safety personnel were dispatched to every school to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

Back to Normal on Saturday

“The police department has assured us that all schools will be ready to resume normal operations as of Saturday morning,” Title said in his statement.

“Events like today are also learning experiences for the school system. We have debriefed internally today about how we can improve our practices, and we will be debriefing with the police and fire departments, along with the First Selectman, on Monday. As an institution dedicated to learning, we must be reflective of our own practices. If you feel there is something we can do better the next time, please do not hesitate to contact your principal/headmaster or me directly.”

Counseling Support Offered on Monday

“In addition, because we know there may be lingering stress, we are working to provide counseling support to any staff member who needs it on Monday. We will have more information for you about this on Monday morning. Please reach out for any help you may need,” Title added.

Officials said earlier on Friday that it was going to take some time to dismiss 10,000 students in 17 schools and Title asked parents who usually go inside to pick up kids to wait outside and officials will bring the children to them.

Parents who don’t usually pick up their children at school were urged by officials to remain at home and allow the buses to bring them home.

MacNamara also thanked parents for their understanding that “we have the best intentions for their children at hand. It just sometimes takes a while to get that going.”

Talk to Your Children

MacNamara said that they recognize it is a “very uneasy” feeling for parents and that tonight those conversations are going to have to be had with students who are aware of lockdown procedures and how scary it is.

“I think it’s important to point out that parents have to have those conversations with their kids tonight,” MacNamara said in an afternoon update news conference. “To make sure they understand they were secure at all times and this is just a process we go through, unfortunately, when we have individuals that attempt to disrupt the flow of what we do in town. We understand that and we recognize that for parents this is a trying time.”

The lockdown was modified to a lockout at 11:15 a.m., which meant no one was allowed to enter or leave any buildings until students were released and escorted by police to buses.

A person inside one of the schools said a Fairfield police officer visited one of the classrooms on lockdown just before 11 a.m. and told staff and students there is “no reason to fear.”

At the time, the officer said they are just checking the building as a precaution.

All School Threats a Felony?

State Rep. Tony Hwang, who represents Sandy Hook, Fairfield, Easton and Weston, said late Friday that he plans to re-introduce a proposal in the Connecticut legislature, which aims to set a new standard on how states can respond to the growing rate of threats of violence against schools.

The bill, which passed unanimously in the State Senate but never was called for a vote in the House of Representatives, called for the creation of a new section under the state’s existing threatening laws, pertaining specifically to threats of violence targeting schools.

Under that new section, first-degree threatening becomes a Class C felony and second-degree threatening becomes a Class D felony; under the existing general threatening statutes, first-degree threatening is a Class D felony and second-degree threatening is a Class A misdemeanor. The felony charges carry stiffer sentences.

“Our message must be heard loud and clear: Connecticut does not tolerate threats of violence against our schools,” Hwang said. “And if someone does commit such a despicable act, they will face severe penalties that bring the punishment more in line with the crime. Today’s threats in Fairfield reinforce the need to strengthen our laws in this area.”

Praise for a Job Well Done

On the Fairfield Police Department Facebook page, the department earned praise for its work on the schools threat case.

Jean Marie Wiesen wrote, “God bless all of you for your quick response to this frightening situation as well as the surrounding PD’s. I hope you catch the person who caused this panic and fear. You’re awesome!”

Lynsey Lotty wrote, “nice work today, I am confident I live somewhere safe for my children thanks to the response today.”

Pictured: Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Title during a press conference at Fairfield Warde High School. Photo courtesy of the Fairfield Fire Department