Bomb Threat At Long Island School Investigated: Police

PATCHOGUE, NY — Suffolk County police are investigating a bomb threat at South Ocean Middle School in Patchogue, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

Patchogue-Medford School District officials received an email overnight indicating there was a bomb on the 2nd floor of the school, and police were notified just before 8 a.m. on Thursday, according to a statement from police.

Emergency Service Section officers checked the school and the threat was determined to be non-credible, police said.

Fifth Squad detectives are conducting the investigation, according to police.

In the first message to parents Thursday morning, Schools Superintendent Donna Jones said that before the students' arrival, a potential bomb threat was called into the school and all administrators, faculty, and staff were immediately evacuated from the building, and an investigation was launched in coordination with the police, who are on site.

No students were allowed in the building once they began arriving, walkers were directed to South Ocean’s field, and the buses were taken to Bay Elementary School, she said.

Walkers were then taken to Bay, and all students are safe in its gymnasium, Jones said, adding that the police were "thoroughly" searching the building.

"Safety and security are paramount to us, and we are following all protocols to ensure such," she said. "All students are safe at this time in Bay gymnasium. Please do not come to pick your child up. Once the building is clear, all South Ocean students will return to the building."

In the second message, Jones explained that following a "thorough investigation," police determined the bomb threat was "unsubstantiated," and the building was fully cleared and "established as safe."

In the third message, Piciullo said that a "full safety sweep" was conducted at the building.

Students, administrators, faculty, and staff have returned to the building and will proceed with the school day, he said.

"We hold safety and security to be paramount, and out of an abundance of caution, we are remaining in close contact with the Suffolk County Police Department throughout the day," he said. :I would like to commend our South Ocean scholars for the poise they displayed as they adhered to our safety procedures, and we have spoken with them about the importance of their cooperation."

Counselors are readily available for any students who would like additional support, according to Piciullo.

"Thank you for your cooperation throughout this process," he said.

The bomb threat is the latest incident reported at a Suffolk school since the fall term began.

On Tuesday, a "hold-in-place" was enacted at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach over a report of a former student being inside the building.

A series of threats to school safety have been circulating on social media, and several Nassau schools were named this week, Riverhead Schools Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich said.

An active shooter drill was held in Shoreham Wednesday afternoon.

On Monday, a student was caught with brass knuckles at Samoset Middle School in Lake Ronkonoma.

It was the second such incident involving a weapon being found on a Sachem student since Sept. 5, according to police.

Two teens were arrested after an argument during which one of them brought a knife to Sachem North High School in Lake Ronkonkoma, police said.

A 15-year-old boy flashed a knife at his bus stop and was met by staff members as he left the bus outside the school, police said, adding that the knife was found, and officers were notified.

The teen was arrested and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, according to police.

A further investigation by 4th Precinct Crime Section officers found that the 15-year-old had previously been threatened by another 15-year-old boy in July, police said.

That teen was also arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, according to police.

They were also not identified because they are minors.

Both teens were released to the custody of their parents and will be arraigned in Family Court at a later date.

Following the arrests, Sachem school district officials sent parents a letter, urging that they speak with their children about safety and appropriate behavior.