On Thursday, around the state, including Westchester and Putnam counties, there were numerous false reports of shots fired, particularly at schools. These reports are thought to be part of a dangerous practice known as “swatting.”
Swatting is “the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.”
No threats have been directed towards Irvington, but the Irvington Police Department and Altaris, the District’s security consultant, have been monitoring all area incidents.
“In the event of a threat, we will shift into our emergency procedures immediately and communicate with the community accordingly,” Dr. Kristopher Harrison, superintendent of schools, wrote in an email on March 30, following reports of area schools such as Horace Greeley going into lockdown procedures after threats.
“Please be aware that all statements or actions that suggest a threat to the safety and security of our school populations are taken seriously,” Dr. Harrison wrote. “Any such statement comes with significant consequences, even if they are made jokingly and/or are deemed as not credible.”
“We recognize the need to be transparent regarding incidents that may impact our school community. We will always act out of an abundance of caution to ensure all our students and staff are safe.”
