Threats trigger protocol progression for admin, law enforcement

Wildcat Nation rang in the new year with an anonymous threat to student and staff safety and security. On January 5, West was vandalized with a threat written on one of the bathroom walls telling all students to not come in the next day and to warn others, triggering angst in students and teachers alike. Parents and students were notified of the issue, informing them there would be increased law enforcement protection at school that day. Students, parents, and staff were concerned about protocols and the steps taken for the safety of the school despite the increased police presence and the school being deemed safe. 

Thankfully, none of the threats came to fruition. However, it does beg the question of how administration and law enforcement arrive at their evaluation of a threat’s legitimacy.

After finding the threat plastered across the wall, the school's safety team lept into its strategic protocol, according to  Assistant Principal Aaron Herm.

“Whenever we have a school threat, our administration works with the Oshkosh Police Department right away,” he said. “For every threat, we complete a threat assessment protocol,  which is followed by a course of action taken by the school to ensure safety.”

 Interviewing parents, witnesses, and suspects, as well as looking into the history of a suspect's behavior, are steps taken while determining the level of danger present. Fellow Assistant Principal Cory Beaulieu appreciates the role of technology in ruling out suspects.

“We start with the cameras; we start with narrowing down where people were at when,” he said. 

West understands the need for safety, and assure students that every threat is taken seriously. 

“Depending on the threat level, there's a list of prescribed actions we should take to make sure we are keeping the school safe,” Herm said. 

Obviously, law enforcement is part of the first steps when it comes to dealing with threats.

“We do work directly with the school when these things unfold because a lot of the time there's a big time crunch,” Resource Officer Heather Brickham said.

Both law enforcement and the school district are involved in an investigation after threats happen to determine what will happen at school. Violations of the terrorist threats statute, which is a criminal offense, can be delivered to the person or persons who create a threat. 

While such threats can be made for a variety of reasons, Herm has one theory as to why these occur.

“Sometimes I think it can be a cry for help, like mental health,” he said. 

To Beaulieu, threats may be made to create unwanted chaos.

“Generally speaking, at least in recent times, it seems as though people are making them not always intending to carry out the act but to cause a commotion,” he said, alluding to the TikToks being passed around the country warning people of a mass school shooting day.

For Brickham, and all administrators, the awareness and communication of the student body is the first step in maintaining security for all. 

“If people come across anything, even if they don't think it's a big deal, just report it,” she said.

By Abigail Conklin

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 4

January 31st, 2022