School board, police lieutenant address school threat protocols

WARREN — Warren Mott High School has endured some fearful moments this school year.

The first incident occurred Sept. 9 when a technical error set off an alarm that called for a lockdown. Staff initiated the school’s ALICE protocols, which caused stress among students who thought there was a real threat in the building when there was not.

A second incident happened during the homecoming dance Sept. 21 when students ran out of the school because they thought they heard gunshots, which turned out to be decorative balloons popping.

Classes were canceled Sept. 23, two days after the dance, when someone posted a false threat to the school.

A fourth episode occurred Oct. 4 when police evacuated Warren Mott during the team’s football game against Cousino after a Cousino student was asked to leave for making several inappropriate comments to a Warren Mott administrator. He wouldn’t leave and was arrested by Warren police. From there, a 911 call was received about a possible threat the arrested student had made, which turned out to be a false alarm.

Because of these matters, Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski gave a presentation on police procedures during the Warren Consolidated Schools Board of Education meeting Oct. 16.

 

‘Detailed investigations often time take time’
There are three school resource officers that work primarily at the district’s three high schools: Warren Mott officer Jeff Carrero, Cousino officer Jason Vandervord and Sterling Heights High School officer Duane Casbar. Carrero and Vandervord are from the Warren Police Department, and Casbar is from the Sterling Heights Police Department.

“We collaborate well together because we have the same goals when it comes to students,” Gajewski said. “That’s safety, security and the well-being of everybody involved. Obviously in today’s times with school threats, it’s unfortunate, we all have to err on the side of caution.

“I know all of us want our students to have excellent social activities, but we cannot compromise safety,” Gajewski said. “It’s because of the relationship we have with the district in general and the establishment of our school resource officers, it allows us to be on the same page more times than not. So much of this is done behind the scenes.”

During the meeting, School Board President Susan Trombley asked Gajewski about situations at the schools — including building evacuations or stopping an event — in which the department takes over. Gajewski said each event is conducted on a case-by-case decision.

“If officers have to make an immediate decision based on an actual emergency, a perceived emergency or a report with what we know at the time, which oftentimes is limited information, we of course will do that,” Gajewski said. “That is when those types of actions, such as shutting something down or evacuating, take place. We strive to make the best, most informed decision we can, keeping all parties abreast to assure the safety and well-being of everybody at the event.”

Trombley also asked Gajewski what occurs after “the crisis situation is resolved.”

First off, a police report is completed and assigned to a detective for follow-up.

“The goal of a detective is to do an investigation to determine the truth of the matter, collect facts and see if those facts prove or disprove that a crime did in fact be committed,” Gajewski said.

Each investigation “is a multistep process” that “takes time.” That includes conducting witness interviews, reviewing security cameras and using digital forensics.

“At the Warren Police Department, most of those investigations, particularly when they are centering on a school threat, an online threat, a threat of violence, are referred to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office,” Gajewski said. “The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, whether an adult or a juvenile, they are the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to issuing a charge.”

Board Vice President Carl Weckerle wanted to know more about how the Warren Police Department provides guidance to the district regarding what is communicated publicly during ongoing investigations.

“We understand that in today’s times everybody wants everything answered instantly right away and so do we. Detailed investigations oftentimes take time,” Gajewski said. “The one thing we cannot do is cause the release of inaccurate information to go out. That obviously harms the trust with parents, the trust with students, and from a law enforcement side can absolutely adversely affect the integrity of an ongoing investigation. Our goal is, of course, to get the accurate, most updated information we can.”

Superintendent John Bernia took an opportunity to address various measures educators take when disciplining students. He talked about the district’s student code of conduct, which outlines the student discipline process.

“There is student discipline that can be handled within the building. That handles the majority of it, and is handled by our building administrators,” Bernia said. “When we have something that is egregious or goes beyond what we might call school discipline, we have a process for that. It’s called a disciplinary hearing. That is chaired and led by our director of security, crisis and management, Mr. (Rick) Scholz. He collects the documents and collects the facts and then it comes to an impartial panel that’s not connected to that student.”

From there, that can result in a number of consequences, including expulsion. Expelled students cannot attend a public school for up to 180 days. Then there’s a reinstatement process students go through in which a panel evaluates whether or not the student can return to school on a case-by-case basis.

“We have an obligation to guarantee due process to the student,” Bernia said. “I don’t enjoy this part of the job, but it is a necessary part of the job to ensure we hold people accountable and make sure we send a message we are serious about safe schools.”