Bullet Found at Watertown High School Thursday

A bullet was found on the steps of Thursday morning, police said, promping school officials to authorize a search of the school, students and students' belongings. 

The bullet was found on the front steps of the school, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn.

In a letter sent home to parents yesterday, Interim Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the Watertown Police Dept. and the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council-School Threat Assessment and Response Team were called.

"Based upon their professional guidance, I authorized a thorough search of the school to determine whether or not any weapons were in the building," Fitzgerald's letter said.

The school was put into "shelter-in-place," where students did not leave classrooms or leave or enter the building. Lockers and common areas were searched by police, accompanied by school officials, and routine searches were also done of students and their belongings, the letter said.

No weapons or other bullets were found, and students were dismissed from school at 2:15 p.m. School continued as normal on Friday, the letter said.

Fitzgerald told Patch this morning that she has not gotten calls from parents concerned about the incident.

"Not at all," she said.

Fitzgerald also praised the work of police and the School Threat Assessment and Response Team (START).

"I was very impressed by the police department in Watertown, as well as the START team that came to visit us," she said.