Threat Against Chester Schools Deemed Not Credible: Police

CHESTER, NJ — A threat made against Chester schools last week was found to be not credible, Chester Police said.

The threat was made on Feb. 22 by a 13-year-old student, police said. It was investigated, but deemed not credible by police. The student will be charged with disorderly conduct and creating a false public alarm.

"The Chester Police Department takes school and community very seriously. We are continuously working with the Chester School District and its administration on ways to protect our children and the community," police said.

This is the third time in recent weeks threats against Morris County schools have been investigated. Two teens in Jefferson were arrested after making threats, and Chatham investigated inappropriate social media posts referencing the school.

Schools across the nation have been on high alert since 17 people, many of them students, were killed and 16 more injured in a Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Threats to schools, many of them turning out to be unsubstantiated, have skyrocketed.

According to The Educator's School Safety Network, there have been 532 school-based threats or violent incidents in the U.S. since the Parkland shooting — an average of 88.7 per school day. In all, 490 schools in 49 states have been threatened or had actual violence happen, according to the group.

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