ACTON – Chief Richard Burrows reports that the Acton Police Department investigated a potential threat against Acton-Boxborough High School last week.
On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Acton Police received a report from school officials that an Acton Boxborough Regional High School student may have connections with an ongoing police investigation in another community. Acton Police contacted the agency in that community and confirmed that there was no immediate threat to the school at that time.
On Wednesday, Sept. 14, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Acton Police were notified by Acton-Boxborough Regional School District officials that they had received notice through the school’s online reporting system that two firearms may have been brought into the school that morning. The anonymous notification named six students, including the student involved in the previous day’s investigation.
In light of this new information, police and school officials followed existing policies and procedures and sheltered students in place while conducting the investigation. Officers also spoke with all of the students who had been identified. As a result of this investigation, Acton Police determined the students did not have weapons and did not pose a risk to others.
Police and school district policies and programs related to school threats are continually the subjects of training and professional development programs in the region. Appropriate procedures were activated and followed at both the school level and at the Acton Police Department in the response to and investigation of this threat.
“When we receive any report of a potential threat within our schools, we have a duty to investigate thoroughly and ensure the safety of all students,” Chief Burrows said. “These procedures are in place to ensure that every possible threat is investigated in a consistent manner.”