Milford High School Addresses Increased Police Presence

MILFORD, MA- Milford High School Principal Joshua Otlin advised the school community this weekend to expect an increased police presence at the school.

In the weeks before the February break the school had an increased police presence causing "significant anxiety" in the community, according to Otlin's letter. But according to the principal, the uptick in officers at the school is not as a result of a change in school security but for the benefit of the police department.

Members of the Special Operations team will be at Milford High School on a regular basis, "So they can become more familiar with both the building and our school community," read Otlin's letter.

Additional officers, not part of the Special Operations team, were called to the school several times earlier in the month. In the week before the February break, officers were called to act as a deterrent for a possible fight between two groups of students. Otlin said the officers "functioned very effectively in this capacity."

On Feb. 1 the high school found threats on social media from a student against the school. Otlin said the school and police quickly determined the threats were not credible but called in additional officers to reassure the community that they were safe. "If we had any reason to believe that there was a potential security threat in the building, we would have immediately ordered a lockdown," Otlin said.

Otlin's letter to the community went on to add that when there is a heavy police presence at the school it is usually for a medical emergency and on some occasions, to deter fights at the school. The school also has its own Crisis Team that is meant to help plan and respond to emergencies. Otlin said the team has not been needed so far but has met three times this year for planning purposes and is actively exploring updates to the schools security protocols.

"We are fortunate to live and work in safe community and a safe school," Otlin said "We are also fortunate to have a local police department that makes an extraordinary commitment to providing a significant police presence at school on a regular basis."

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