South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council
SWAT Team
Under the Local Control of the:
Wareham Police Department
Police Chief Kevin D. Walsh
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 10, 2017
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Police Investigating Email Threat Against Wareham Schools
Mutual Aid Requested, Under Direction of the Wareham Police Department
WAREHAM — Police Chief Kevin D. Walsh reports that there is a police presence at Wareham Public Schools today due to an anonymous email threat received earlier in the day.
Earlier Monday, an administrator received an anonymous email from an individual threatening to harm others.
Out of an abundance of caution, Wareham High School, Wareham Middle School, and the Minot Forest Elementary School, all of which had summer school and other educational activities occurring today, have been evacuated and are being searched by police.
Under the command and direction of Chief Walsh, the South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team has been activated, and Wareham is also receiving mutual aid support from the Cape Cod Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team and the Massachusetts State Police STOP Team.
The mutual aid request has sent a large quantity of police resources to assist Wareham, including Raynham Police Chief James Donovan, who reports to Chief Walsh as the SEMLEC SWAT Commander.
Students and school officials are being transported to the Gleason Family YMCA, located at 33 Charge Pond Road in Wareham, where students will be released to their parents or guardians.
“We understand that the large police presence may be alarming to some, but our number one priority is that the children and school officials are safe, and we do not take any chances when it comes to that,” Chief Walsh said. “I want to thank everyone in the community for their support and patience as we conduct a thorough search of the schools, and I am grateful for the tremendous mutual aid network in south eastern Massachusetts that allows our department to temporarily grow in size and scope to address this incident.”
At this time, there is no reason to believe that there is any danger to the community, however these actions are necessary to ensure the safety and security of all.
Members of the media are advised that they will not be allowed on school property. A media staging area has been established at the former Tremont Nail Company. Any media availabilities by police will occur at that location.
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