Schools Step Up Security After Threatening Phone Calls
FARMINGTON (WWJ) - Some local schools were stepping up security on Thursday following reports of threatening phone calls received by several districts.
Supposedly, an agitated caller made reference to the case of Trayvon Martin, a Florida teen who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watchman.
Officials at Farmington Schools said kids at Gill Elementary and Power Upper Elementary stayed inside for the day and that police would be close by during dismissal as a precaution.
There was no immediate word as to what exactly the caller or callers said.
Sixth grader Jason Borgess told WWJ he heard the rumors about the threat while in school.
"A girl's mother from Gill had heard the threat, she's in my class, so she took her home. And, in the media center, my friend ... he told me about it," Borgess said, adding that he wasn't really scared.
His mother, Rita Sarah, heard about the threat not long before she went to pick up her son from school.
"They were advising all the parents that they put the schools on lockdown, just to make sure, and they just wanted to keep us informed," she said.
Sarah said she understands that tensions are running high surrounding the Trayvon Martin case, and she assumes the phone calls are just a hoax.
The following letter was sent to parents at Power:
"Dear Families,
As safety and security remains a priority within our school, I wish to specifically communicate with you the facts surrounding an incident that occurred today. At approximately 9:30 a.m., a phone call came into the Gill Elementary School office, from an agitated caller, who made reference to the nationally-known Trayvon Martin situation in Florida. Similar phone calls were received in a number of neighboring districts as well. Gill immediately contacted law enforcement and locked and monitored the main entrance and all other exterior doors for the day.
As a precaution, since we are on the same campus as Gill, we also locked and monitored the main entrance and all other exterior doors. All activity inside our school continued as normal. A decision was also made to keep students inside for recess. In addition, the Farmington Police Department committed to providing a police presence on the at Gill and Power at dismissal to support the safety of our students.
I care deeply, as you do, for the safety of the entire Power community. Thank you for your understanding and support to maintain safety throughout our school community.
Sincerely, Jim Anderson, Principal"
Similar threats were made to schools in the Livonia school district.
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