The Shadow
Christopher J. Smith, Chief of Police & Public Safety Director released the following statement:
“A shelter in place was conducted at Covington Middle School last week out of an abundance of caution to give the school administration time to look into a concern that had already been identified and contained by the staff and School Resource Officer. The shelter in place caused some residual comments to develop by the student body over the weekend and we immediately took steps to investigate those comments and they were discovered to be unfounded. The Sheriff and I felt that in the best interest of the students and staff of Covington Middle School, we increase our presence of law enforcement in the morning to help alleviate any concerns from the students or their parents that may have heard about the comments, but did not know that they had already been investigated and resolved.”
“We want to convey to the public that when we receive a threat to any of the schools in the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools system, we take each one serious and that our response is appropriate and at the same time, not trying to cause unnecessary concern. The extra presence this morning was an example of that appropriate response, but unfortunately, it had the opposite effect of what was intended. When the extra presence of law enforcement was seen at the school this morning, it was construed as if something else had occurred and caused the parents and students who were arriving at the school new and unnecessary concern. We are working with the Alleghany Highlands School System administration and other area law enforcement agencies to develop a better way to communicate to the general public when a “real” threat is present or when we are taking extra measures because of a prolonged investigation from school staff and/or law enforcement.”
