Andover School, Public Safety Officials 'Prepared' For Any Threats

ANDOVER, MA — Andover school and public safety officials released a joint statement Wednesday in response to a series of swatting incidents that have occurred in Massachusetts and around the country.

Earlier in the week, several schools across the state —including in Chelmsford, Westfield, Amesbury, Charleston, East Boston and North Attleboro — received shooting and bomb threats. Authorities determined all were hoaxes.

In a letter to Andover Public School families and staff, APS Superintendent Magda Parvey, Andover Police Department Chief Patrick Keefe and Andover Fire Rescue Chief Michael Mansfield said there are plans in place to handle these types of situations should they occur in Andover.

"Andover has so far been spared this situation," the letter read. "We want to assure our families that Andover Police, Andover Fire Rescue and the district are prepared to respond to our schools and to implement emergency protocols in case we do receive this type of call."

The letter indicated that during such a threat, students and staff will be placed in shelter-in-place and nobody will be allowed to enter or leave the building until law enforcement determines whether the call is a swatting hoax.

The authorities said that all APS schools had ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) active shooter response training at the beginning of the school year, and that AHS Principal Caitlin Brown has reminded AHS staff about best practices in case of a school threat.

"We know that for those receiving these types of notifications, it can be unsettling, worrisome, and puts us all on edge," the letter read. "We are hopeful that sharing this information in advance will reassure you that we are prepared to respond as necessary to ensure the safety of our community."