Parents growing concerned over bomb threats at Brooklyn Latin school
“Nobody wants to get a message that your school has been locked down or evacuated,” said Joanne Kennedy, a parent of a senior at Brooklyn Latin. “It's just terrifying. Unfortunately, people's minds go to the worst place.”
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The Brooklyn Latin school community is on edge after receiving an unexplained number of bomb threats this school year.
Parents say it's happened at least 10 times so far this school year.
“Nobody wants to get a message that your school has been locked down or evacuated,” said Joanne Kennedy, a parent of a senior at Brooklyn Latin. “It's just terrifying. Unfortunately, people's minds go to the worst place.”
In just the second week of December, a notification about two more lockdowns came to Kennedy’s phone. Based on communication with the school, she said she believes two threats were made in one day.
Like other parents at Brooklyn Latin, one of the city’s specialized high schools, the question of what police can do continues to linger.
“Are we in danger or aren’t we?” questioned Kennedy. “I don't know what the job is for law enforcement, but we did have a town hall, and it was frustrating for parents because I think it felt like it was unclear.”
Every time there is a threat, all three schools that share the building are forced into lockdown. Depending on the situation, that sometimes means an evacuation of more than 1,500 students to another location.
“Now it’s interfering with classes,” said Kennedy. “It’s frustrating. You got parents who are concerned and are like, ‘Should we have metal detectors?’ All of that costs more money, and the school budgets don't support that, and that's a real hassle for young people too, you know.”
Police say that swatting threats targeting schools have seen a sharp increase over the last two years.
At this point, none of the threats at Brooklyn Latin have been deemed credible.
However, parents say their fears are very real.
Especially since the bomb threats are untraceable and made through a VPN, which can hide a user’s data.
“The parents are working on a petition we're signing that includes local electees," said Kennedy. "Just whoever we can get to pay attention.”
In the meantime, additional police personnel are expected to conduct patrols in and around the school.
