Petition For Armed Guards In Glen Rock School Draws More Than 500 Signatures

GLEN ROCK, NJ — After a hoax phone call drew armed police to Glen Rock High School earlier this month, a group of parents say there should be armed guards at the school during the day.

As of Monday, a petition had drawn more than 500 signatures.

It says, "Our school received a threat that forced a lockdown, disrupted learning, and left families terrified. ... While every other school in our area has already armed its security guards to deter and respond to active threats, our school remains the only one without this critical protection."

It suggested that arming retired officers would "pProvide an immediate, professional first line of defense against shooters, bombers, or other violent intruders" and deter potential attackers.

In response to the petition, local officials said they couldn't share all of the details about how security works in the schools, but that they understood the public's concern.

Dr. Damali Robinson, the Glen Rock Board of Education president, said, "We are aware of the petition circulating in the community regarding armed security personnel. While that discussion is important, it is separate from the specific circumstances of this incident, which involved a swatting call and was addressed through coordinated law enforcement response and established safety protocols. Following the recent incident, district leadership is working with law enforcement and emergency responders to review the response and identify any areas for continued improvement."

Swatting is the act of making a false report to law enforcement to trigger a large response, often claiming there's an immediate threat, such as a shooter.

The same day as the Glen Rock threat, a school in Clark also received a threat. And last month, high schools in Hoboken and Westfield received threats on the same day. Hoboken High's superintendent later said their lockdown was due to swatting.

Officials say that the pranks are serious — they can take law enforcement away from situations where they are needed, and puts victims at risk. In 2022, police rushed to a home in Maplewood due to a report of a shooting, and demanded via loudspeaker that the occupants come out. A man, woman, and toddler emerged, and they had no idea what was happening. (READ MORE: Maplewood 'Swatting' Incident Drives Family From Home)

Last year, a teenager in California was sentenced to four years in prison for making more than 300 "swatting" calls to schools and other institutions.

READ MORE: NJ School Lockdown Was Result Of 'Swatting'

Robinson added, "While we understand the public’s interest in school safety, we do not share specific details of our security procedures, as doing so could compromise their effectiveness and jeopardize the safety of our students and staff."

Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said Thursday that police are in communication with school and town officials, and would be willing to work on any changes.

"Decisions regarding the use of armed security personnel, School Resource Officers, or Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers are ultimately matters of policy and budget that fall under the authority of the Board of Education," he said. "At present, we do not have any officers assigned on a full-time basis to our schools. However, patrol officers conduct periodic walkthroughs at all five public school buildings, as well as private religious schools within the community, as staffing levels and service demands permit."

He noted, "Should the Board of Education choose to explore these options, the Police Department would fully support that effort and stands ready to collaborate in developing an approach that best serves the needs of the school community."

The petition had reached 587 signatures by Monday afternoon.

READ MORE: High School In Bergen County Goes Into Lockdown Due To Hoax: Police