More Details on Increased Waltham Graduation Security

Waltham’s Acting Police Chief today shed more light on what prompted the increased security measures at Sunday’s Waltham High School graduation ceremony.

Acting Police Chief Keith MacPherson, in an interview with Waltham Patch as he oversaw graduation security outside of John F. Kennedy Middle School on Sunday, said there were no “overt” threats or specific threats in connection with the graduation. He said police found some comments on social media outlets that he characterized as typical high school student chatter. MacPherson said he believed the comments appeared on Facebook.

On Saturday, city officials notified the public of the chatter about a "potential" incident at the graduation. The officials, in their statement, called the comments "unsubstantiated." 

Waltham’s School Resource Police Officer Kristen Tracey, who had been monitoring social media, noticed the chatter on Thursday, MacPherson said.

In response, city officials imposed several security measures at Sunday’s graduation. Guests were required to enter the building through its main entrance and then pass through metal detectors. Also, some guests were subjected to metal detector wand searches. Bags were not allowed inside. Officers from Methuen, Watertown and the North Eastern Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) supplemented Waltham officers to provide additional security. MacPherson said the NEMLEC team brought the metal detectors.

No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.