East Brunswick Schools To Add Armed Cops To Security Protocol

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — During a week in which a student was arrested for making terroristic threats online, the East Brunswick Public School District announced plans to add armed police officers to its security plan.

An East Brunswick High School student was arrested Friday after allegedly making a terroristic threat in an online post, according to a message posted online by East Brunswick Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Victor Valeski.

A parent and a student alerted the district to the online posting early in the day, Valeski said. The student who made the post was quickly identified, and was taken to the main office by a district security officer. He was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat after being questioned at the school by East Brunswick police officers.

“The Board of Education and Superintendent thank the parent and student for reporting this very serious matter and also wish to thank the District’s Security Officers and the East Brunswick Police officers for their swift action to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” Valeski said. “It is imperative that whenever anyone learns of a potential safety threat that they immediately notify the District and the East Brunswick Police Department. As a community, we all have to remain vigilant and work together to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”

The identity of the student and the nature of the posting weren't revealed by the school district.

The decision to add armed police officers to each school in the district throughout the entire school day actually came one day earlier, when the East Brunswick Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution at its Feb. 15 meeting. The vote came after 17 people were killed during a shooting at a Florida school.

“The armed police officers will supplement the District’s already existing staff of 71 security officers – all of who are retired police officers – to further enhance the security at all of East Brunswick Board of Education facilities throughout the school year,” Valeski said. “It is the Board of Education and Superintendent’s commitment to take all necessary measures to insure that our students, staff and visitors remain safe and secure in our schools.”

"The East Brunswick Police Department already has a School Resource Officer at East Brunswick High School as well as numerous programs in place that benefit the youth in our community," the police department said in a release. "We look forward to continuing our long standing relationship with the East Brunswick Board of Education to have a positive impact on our township.

"The East Brunswick Police Department implores anyone that learns of a potential safety threat against our community to immediately notify the East Brunswick Police Department."

The Princeton Public School District has also announced plans to change the district’s safety and security protocols following the school shootings. Read more here: Princeton Schools Enhance Security Protocols

See related: At Least 5 NJ School Threats Investigated In Last 72 Hours

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