'Unsubstantiated' School Threat On Social Media Sparks Response

NORTH FORK, NY — After the recent deadly school shooting in Parkland, FL, tensions are running high among parents, educators and students nationwide — and a "unsubstantiated" threat on social media sparked an uptick in police presence and at least one district on lockout at local East End schools on Monday.

In Southold, police presence was seen at each school building.

"Today there was a unsubstantiated social media threat being passed around that apparently originated out of a school district in western Suffolk. There was a rumor that there was going to be a school shooting at 12:27 p.m today in an unknown school," Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said.

The rumor was discussed with local school administrators, and as a result of the discussion, he assigned a patrol car to each of the local school district campuses for a defined time frame in the afternoon, Flatley said.

Lars Clemensen, president of the Suffolk County School Superintendent's Association and superintendent of Hampton Bays Public Schools, wrote a letter to parents and educators.

"Over the weekend, a non-specific threat against schools began circulating
on social media," he said. "A number of superintendents notified the Suffolk County Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies of the threat."

On Monday, Clemensen said, the "viral nature of social media spread this concern to other communities in Suffolk County. The threat was investigated by SCPD and it was deemed non-credible to any county school. Based on the information provided to the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, it has been confirmed that the threat originated in a high school in Queens and has been resolved by the NYPD."

However, Clemensen, districts responded in force. "We take incidents of this nature very seriously," he said.

Districts have protocols in place for such threats, which includes immediately contacting local law enforcement, he said. "In our schools, we continue to implement our safety procedures with heightened diligence. It is unfortunate that recent events have caused an increase in this type of 'copycat' posts, which tend to cause a significant disruption in the learning environment," he said.

Clemensen said educators understand that the latest incidents across the country have sparked a heightened spotlight on safety and security in school buildings. He added that precautions are taken daily to protect students and staff and provide a secure learning environment for all.

In Southampton, School Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Dyno said the district was notified late in the morning that a threat was made in western Suffolk County "of a generalized nature" for "a school in Suffolk County."

To that end, Dyno said the district followed police advice to implement a lock out, which remained in effect throughout student dismissal; village police were present during each school's dismissal, and all after school activities were canceled.

"We apologize for any inconvenience, but student safety is our priority," Dyno said. Parents noted that officers were seen outside the district's buildings after school.

In western Suffolk, Suffolk Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding a message posted in an online chat room regarding a threat of violence in the Sayville School District.

"We have been informed that the Suffolk County Police Department has resolved the matter and are in the process of bringing the investigation to a close," Sayville Superintendent John Stimmel wrote on the district's website Monday evening.

On Sunday, Stimmel told parents that the district had become aware of two online threats, one of which threatened violence in Sayville and another that "was vague and we were given reason to believe that it was not directed towards Sayville."

After the shooting, districts spoke with Patch about plans for enhanced security measures.