Point Pleasant Area Schools Add Cops, Increase Police Presence

Point Pleasant area schools are taking bigger steps to improve security following the Florida shootings that killed 17 people two weeks ago. Another incident also inspired caution at Memorial school in Point Boro.

Point Pleasant Beach police announced this week they assigning a police officer at the high school, St. Peter's Elementary School and G. Harold Antrim Elementary School for the rest of the school year.

After a shelter-in-place incident at Memorial School, Point Pleasant Boro schools said the police will increase their presence around the district. Read more: Temporary Shelter-In-Place At Memorial School In Point Pleasant

In a letter, Point Pleasant Beach Police Chief Joseph Michigan said the Florida shootings "have sparked an all-too-familiar discussion about the presence of evil and potential for violence in our schools and communities."

Michigan said the officers will be there in the morning to give "high fives" to kids as they walk in the door and walk in the hallways during the day. They will "sit down and have lunch and play outside with our kids. We will be there all day, every day."

Michigan said the police officers are trained, prepared and ready to respond at a moment's notice. They train together with neighboring towns for a coordinated active shooter response, he said. The training includes strategic planning sessions, and they conduct periodic drills.

A shelter-in-place was declared at Memorial Middle School on Monday in Point Boro, meanwhile, after a message containing a possible threat was found in the bathroom, according to Vincent S. Smith, superintendent of schools.

Students told school officials about the message that was written in a bathroom stall. The message contained a threat that something was going to occur at Memorial Middle School, Smith wrote in a letter to parents.

The Point Pleasant Boro Police Department was called and responded to the school immediately. District staff and the officers conducted a thorough investigation, which determined that no credible threat exists.

Backpacks and lockers were searched by district personnel. All security and safety procedures were implemented and followed by staff and students, Smith said.

"I commend the individuals who immediately reported this to the building principal. Additionally, students and staff members have been very helpful and cooperative during the process. Please know that the safety of our students remains our top priority. We will provide updates if necessary," Smith said.

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