Police Boosting Patrols After 'Rumors'
Rumors that spread on Thursday about a former student threatening harm at Barrington High School today, Dec. 21, seem unsubstantiated after a police investigation.
The Barrington Police Department will increase patrols at the high school today, Dec. 21, because of rumors that spread Thursday, Dec. 20, about a former student threatening to do some type of harm there.
The rumors appear unsubstantiated at this time, said Barrington Police Chief John LaCross late Thursday afternoon. An investigation found only that the student made a comment or comments on Facebook that seemed to imply he might harm himself, LaCross said.
The police chief said yesterday that he was very concerned about feeding into possible hysteria based on rumors. But if anyone has solid information that the police should know about, LaCross said, he urged them to contact the police department immediately.
Given the rumors, however, BHS Principal Joseph Hurley sent out an email to parents and guardians about 3:45 pm on Thursday. It reads:
“Today several rumors began to spread regarding a student who was planning to do harm to the students and staff at Barrington High School. The Barrington police have been notified of this concern and have been to the student’s house, speaking to both the student and his parents. The student in question no longer attends Barrington High School.
“To ensure the safety of all students and staff at BHS, I have been in contact with Barrington Police Chief John LaCross. In order to calm the concerns of our school community, it has been determined that we will increase the presence of the police department throughout the day tomorrow (Dec. 21).
“The safety and security of the students and staff at Barrington High School is always our number one priority. Please trust that we will remain diligent in our duties to ensure a safe school environment for all of our children.”
resident
10:45 am on Friday, December 21, 2012
Barrington is really dropping the ball on school security. Most other towns I know of including Warren and Coventry and several others towns actually have police officers at the doors of the elementry schools at least. This morning, primrose hill school was wide open, kids and adults walking in unnoticed, no police at all. The school didn't even lock it's doors during the day until 2 years ago! This is pathetic if you ask me. There should be a police officer at every school in every town across the country.
Anon
7:59 am on Monday, December 24, 2012
Barrington cops patrolling the schools is a horrible idea. First, they would be completely innefective against a tragedy like that in Newtown. They are no match for an assault rifle. Second, they would start putting their nose into school disciplinary issues. Under LaCrosse, very soon, we would find our middle schoolers hauled into the station every time a scuffle broke out between kids. I have no doubt he would arrest 12 year olds for "assault" after a normal back lot fight broke out. Since the chance of a tragedy like that in Newtown happening at any school is so extremely low, these armed police guards at every school would end up finding something to justify their existence, like arresting whatever kids get into the tiniest bit of trouble - giving the kid a criminal record and taking over what was, in the past, a school issue. In that respect, I have little faith that the cops in Barrington have the best interest of the citizens in mind.
Ru Paul
11:06 am on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Hallelu! Preach it sister!
John Baron
11:54 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
Not sure what cave you crawled out of but back lot fights are not acceptable behavior, or necessary. An armed guard would have had a "chance" against a man with an assault weapon, it would have been prevented with one shot. Not to mention we have a young man living in town who was accused of a threat http://barrington.patch.com/articles/barrington-college-student-faces-charges-for-columbine-like-facebook-threats-2