Security may tighten; handwriting expert called to scene, in second WHS bomb threat
By Eric Tsetsi/Staff Writer
Fri Feb 01, 2008, 12:06 PM EST
Winchester, MA - A second bomb threat was found scrawled on the wall of a Winchester High School boys' bathroom Thursday. It was the second reported incident in a little more than two weeks.
According to police, a student found the words, "(expletive deleted) this school. Bomb on Monday" in a third-floor bathroom at about 8:30 a.m.
The threat was written in pencil on the back of a bathroom stall door, police said.
"School resource officer Daniel Perenick … determined the threat was low-level, but the school administration and the Winchester Police Department are treating this threat seriously," said school principal Thomas Gwin in a notice sent to parents and faculty members. "The school administration is working with the police department to determine the writer of the threat."
The bathroom was secured and photographs were taken of the writing, shortly after the threat was discovered. All the words were written in small lettering, each word less than an inch long, according to police.
Gwin requested a handwriting expert to review the writing, and teaching staff was e-mailed requesting information about which students had been out of the class or came in late, police said.
According to Gwin, if a culprit is not identified by Monday the school will implement security measures, including a sweep of the school Sunday night to ensure no threats are present, any backpacks brought to school will be searched and there will be a heightened presence of security officers.
All students will also have to enter the school from the main entrance.
"We need to take these precautions because student safety is our highest priority," wrote Gwin in an e-mail sent to parents Friday. "We wholeheartedly believe that Monday will be a safe school day. I strongly urge all students to attend school on Monday."
Gwin's initial notice to parents and staff was sent out around noon Thursday, several hours after the threat was first reported.
The school was not locked down and classes were held as usual, according to Gwin's secretary, Mia Gustin.
"We're still working the case," said Officer Perenick reached by telephone Thursday afternoon. "And we're going to make sure things are as safe as possible on Monday if we're not able to solve this by then."
About two weeks ago on Tuesday, Jan. 15, a similar threat stating, "Bomb this week," was discovered. According to a source at the school, both threats were found in the same bathroom.
According to Superintendent William McAlduff the high school's incident management team, headed by Perenick, has been meeting to devise a plan for dealing with the threat.
"They're working on this vigorously and trying to get to the bottom of it," he said. "(Perenick) is an expert in these things."
In addition to being the school resource officer, Perenick is also the regional commander of the School Threat Assessment Response Systems (STARS) team.
"Any type of bomb threat is not only a serious school offense, but also a very serious felony not tolerated in the court system," wrote Gwin. "Please understand that Winchester High School takes threats of violence very seriously and we want to assure students, staff and parents that the school is a safe environment for learning."
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact Gwin or Perenick at the high school by calling 781-721-7020.
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