Campus Chaos

An alleged threat at Carmel High School forced officials to lock down the campus Monday and dismiss school early.

A small army of police officers from the Sheriff’s Department and Carmel Police converged on the Fair Street campus after school administration working in conjunction with law enforcement decided that early dismissal would ensure the safety of all students.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Ryan told the COURIeR shortly after 8am, “one of the high school students overheard the conversation threatening violence and advised a building administrator who immediately summoned the School Resource Officer.”

Dr. Ryan said as the “students left the building in an orderly manner, police searched lockers and backpacks.”

Chief Sheriff’s Investigator A. Gerald Schramek said the New York State Police K-9 unit responded a short time later with bomb sniffing dogs to search the campus for any devices: “The search concluded without any being found.”

Both school officials and members of the law enforcement community are continuing the investigation this week.

Chief Schramek said school resumed Tuesday with a normal testing schedule but “as a precaution additional uniformed police remained on the campus throughout the week.”

Sheriff Donald Smith commended the “seamless cooperation” displayed by school officials, police, and students during the incident: “Our children are our most valuable resource. I personally commend the student who came forward with the information and shared it with the proper authorities. The students’ cooperation, by leaving the campus in an orderly fashion, made the jobs of law enforcement and school personnel much easier.”