Bombs, Weapons Threatened At Long Island Middle School: Police

PATCHOGUE, NY — A staff member received an email Wednesday night threatening there were bombs and weapons at South Ocean Middle School, prompting a response by Suffolk police, but nothing was found, a spokesperson for the department said.

It was a teacher that opened "purportedly received from a student" threatening "potential harm to students and the school building" at the start of school Wednesday morning, Patchogue-Medford school district officials said.

The district requested a police presence for the school's opening "out of an abundance of caution," and officers were present to provide additional safety and security, a district spokesperson said.

District security personnel and security rovers are also remaining vigilant and "on high alert," according to the spokesperson.

In a letter to the community Wednesday morning, Schools Superintendent Donna Jones said the teacher "immediately notified" and forwarded the email to the school's administration, which then notified the district's security and herself.

Suffolk police arrived at the school around 10:20 p.m. to conduct "a thorough search and sweep," and at the same time, officers were dispatched to the student’s home to interview them and their parents, she said.

After completing their sweep of the middle school, the police determined there was no credible threat to students or the building, and based on that determination, officials decided to open as scheduled, and "all before-and after-school activities" are to go ahead as scheduled, according to Jones.

"The district is continuing its investigation of this incident and is cooperating with law enforcement in its ongoing investigation," she said, adding that it takes the situation, as all situations "that present a potential threat or harm to our students and faculty, very seriously."

"We have zero tolerance for any action or behavior that is directly threatening or implies a threat of any kind," she said. "Any student or person found responsible for such actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and if a student, will also face the maximum consequences as prescribed by the district’s student Code of Conduct."

"We realize receiving information such as this is upsetting, even when it is determined that the threat was not credible," she said. "If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s building principal or my office. If at any time you feel your child may be upset by these situations, or is expressing concerns about their safety, please let us know. We have counselors and psychologists who are here to help."

Jones concluded by thanking the community for its continued support.

Her message was sent at around 6 a.m., a district spokesperson said.

The school's principal, Timothy Piciullo, sent out a second message about 15 minutes later, saying that the safety and security of students and staff are taken very seriously, and "out of an abundance of caution," administrators "will remain in close contact" with police "throughout the day."

"Our counselors are readily available for any student who would like additional support," he said. "Thank you for your support throughout this process.

Patch has reached out to police for comment.

This is not the first time the district has received a threat involving a student.

There was a similar threat in September.

Then on Oct. 16, a post made by a student containing a threat at Patchogue-Medford High School was flagged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, prompting a response from police, school district officials previously told Patch.