Irvington Schools Lock Down After False Report of Shooter

Editor's Note: The following is a letter from the Irvington School District

April 23, 2013 Dear Parents,

Today at approximately 12:15 pm, the Irvington Police Department received a phone call stating that Irvington High School was in lockdown as a result of a possible shooter. While no Irvington Schools were in lockdown and there were no reports of any threats, we immediately coordinated a lockdown of the entire campus. We also placed Dows Lane Elementary School and Main Street School in a lockout mode; whereby, no visitors were permitted to enter.

After receiving this report, the Irvington Police Department, with the support of the Dobbs Ferry and Tarrytown Police Departments, performed a thorough search of the entire campus. Their search identified no safety threats. The Irvington Police Department then recommended lifting the lockdown and lockouts as no threat was present.

The initial investigation revealed that this appears to have been a misplaced call, as Irvington High School in NEW JERSEY was engaged in a situation at the time this report was received. The Police Department will continue their investigation to confirm and clarify this unfortunate coincidence.

I want to assure everyone that at no time was student safety at risk. Also, I want to thank all law enforcement agencies for their support and assistance. We must also commend our students and staff for their patience and cooperation during this anxious time.

As your children arrive home tonight, please discuss the seriousness of this event, while being sure to address their concerns. If your child was upset by today's incident, please contact your child's principal or guidance counselor if additional assistance is needed.

This situation highlights the importance of our regular emergency drills and our dedication to school safety. We in Irvington remain focused on providing the safest environment for our children to grow and learn.

Sincerely,

Kristopher Harrison Superintendent of Schools 

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