School Pep Rally Threat In The Caldwells Is Non-Credible: Authorities

Rumors of a violent act being planned for Friday’s pep rally at West Essex High School in North Caldwell now appear to be non-credible, according to authorities.

The West Essex Regional School District stated on its website that after receiving reports of threats to the school and disturbing social media posts, authorities decided to launch a security investigation into the matter.

School officials and police with K-9 units conducted searches of the high school and middle school buildings and found no credible threat, authorities stated.

North Caldwell Police Chief Mark Deuer told West Essex Now that police worked through Wednesday night, conducting an investigation of students, families, homes and school lockers.

Police were present on Thursday at the high school and will also be present during the pep rally on Friday, West Essex Now stated.

The reports of a threat may have been the result of a misquoted joke and a social media feeding frenzy, school administrators stated.

“The investigation revealed that initially one student made a joke, which originally had no mention of violence to other students,” school officials wrote on the district website. “The joke was overheard and misinterpreted by other students at which point the comments became distorted and propagated through social media where the rumor took a life of its own and students and parents began to panic. Both the high school and the middle school are safe and we anticipate a smooth end to Spirit Week today and tomorrow.”

School administrators added:

“West Essex High School would like to remind all students and parents that if a threat is ever perceived to contact the authorities before posting on social media. If West Essex Administration is not immediately available, local police departments are always available. Call 911 first in the event of an emergency. All threats, regardless of origin, are treated as genuine until evidence determines otherwise.”

Color Day and the pep rally scheduled for Friday will continue as planned, with police officers in attendance as they are every year, school officials stated.

Send Caldwell news tips and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com