Coming Together in Response to Recent Threats Against CPS

Coming Together in Response to Recent Threats Against CPS
Posted on 12/07/2015
Update from City Manager Richard C. Rossi, Superintendent of Schools Jeff Young, and Police Commissioner Robert Haas

On Sunday, December 6, members of the community met at the Citywide Senior Center to learn about resources and supports, and to hear updates on recent threats against Cambridge Public Schools. Following are key points from this meeting:

Law enforcement officials expressed that they are increasingly convinced that the person sending these threats does not intend to act on them. Two more messages over the weekend have been sent, but these were not threats – they indicated that violence is not going to take place.

The person has been sending emails to the police department using an anonymous tip email system; also using a software that can mask where an email is coming from.

This type of situation is proliferating around the country due to advances in technology and increased violence and threats of violence around the world. Most threats of this nature are intended to annoy, harass, intimidate, or satisfy some desire for attention and are not legitimate. Despite this, each threat has to be taken seriously because it could not be ruled out that the person might act on it. Police presence will be maintained until law enforcement is convinced the situation is safe.

City and school have worked hard to respond thoughtfully, and have collaborated and planned for each day. This around-the-clock response and heightened security at all schools will continue until the investigation determines that the school can operate as usual.   

This is a highly stressful situation that has created intense anxiety in all of us, adults and children. Principals and teachers deserve our deep gratitude for their everyday interactions with students that have helped them feel more safe and secure.

Adults are encouraged to communicate to kids in a developmentally appropriate way that they are working very hard to keep them safe. A person has been using the internet to make our community feel afraid, but we are going to stand together and we will be stronger, more resourceful and effective because of this.

More Information:
Summary of Joint Statement from the City Manager, Police Commissioner, 
and Superintendent of Schools
English | Spanish | Haitian Creole | Arabic | Bengali | Chinese
Talking with Kids about Highly Stressful Situations
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