Crime & Safety

Police Search For Drugs During Hingham High School Lockdown

No drugs found during random lockdown at Hingham High School.

Police and eight canine units from six agencies searched Hingham High School grounds Friday morning as part of a routine lockdown to keep the school safe.

The police units and school administrators conducted a sweep of the classrooms, parking lot and students’ lockers at 9:20 a.m., HHS Principal Dr. Paula Girouard-McCann said in an email to parents.  The lockdown was finished by 10 a.m.

“Hingham High School is committed to keeping drugs out of the school,” McCann said.  “Today’s procedure was conducted with this goal in mind.”

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Hingham Police Sgt. Steven Dearth confirmed that no drugs were found during the sweep.

"It’s very encouraging to check the school grounds and find no drugs," Dearth said in an email. "But we will continue to work with the school staff to continue these random searches."

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Police said the lockdowns are conducted at the request of the school.

During a lockdown, students are required to stay in their classrooms and students in the hallway are taken into the nearest classroom, McCann said.  All doors are locked while teachers remain teaching. 

“ We will be vigilante in our enforcement of school policies concerning illegal drugs," McCann said in a statement. “Please know that the goal of today’s sweep and any future sweeps is to make Hingham High School a safe and secure place where learning can occur without the dangers of illegal drugs.” 

The canines used in Friday's lockdown were from police departments from Hingham, Rockland, Brockton, Stoughton, Weymouth along with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Dept.

HHS also held a routine lockdown last November in which no drugs were found and held an unexpected lockdown last month after a Quincy student sent a threatening text message to a Hingham student.

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