Officials investigate robbery, bomb threats in Fairbanks, North Pole
Originally published Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.
Updated Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 12:10 a.m.
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NORTH POLE — Soon after someone called the North Pole Middle School and told a secretary that a bomb would detonate in two minutes, a man robbed the credit union inside the North Pole Safeway store on Wednesday and disappeared with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Authorities also were dealing with a suspicious package at the post office in downtown Fairbanks at about the same time. The unmarked package wound up being business mail that hadn’t been labeled, according to a statement from the Fairbanks Police Department.
North Pole police Lt. Steve Dutra said he thinks the middle school bomb threat, which caused officials to lock down the school’s 600 students for hours, was probably called in by the same person who robbed the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. The robber apparently hoped to create a diversion.
“There’s a suspected connection,” Dutra said.
The credit union robbery is the 12th robbery of a bank or credit union in Alaska this year, according to the FBI.
Authorities from multiple agencies shut down North Pole Plaza, where the Safeway is located, the middle school and the Fairbanks post office while launching simultaneous investigations.
At the plaza, shoppers were allowed to finished their business and leave, but the entrances were sealed off.
North Pole police, Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks police and the FBI responded to the scene.
An FBI agent said authorities combed the mall for the suspect, described as a white man, slender, 5 feet, 10 inches tall and in his mid 20s with blue eyes. According to an FBI press release, the man wore a black motocross helmet, a black jacket and dark-colored bunny boots.
Authorities wouldn’t discuss whether the man had a weapon.
James Lundgren, who manages a hardware store in the mall, said he saw a young man with a helmet walk by, leaving through the mall’s back entrance. The man seemed in no particular hurry, Lundgren said.
Other mall employees noticed no one fitting the suspect’s description. In addition to the hardware and grocery stores, the mall has a clothing store, a tailor, a hairdresser, a craft store and a computer gaming establishment.
Inside the credit union, which is in the back of the grocery store, investigators huddled in an office while tellers counted money. One bank teller, a young woman, wiped away occasional tears. A credit union manager declined to comment.
The robber’s likeness was caught on a security camera and law enforcement officers passed around his picture. The robber’s face was obscured.
Authorities said no customers were inside the credit union at the time of the robbery, which took place at about 2 p.m., not long after the middle school was sealed off and bomb-sniffing dogs called in.
Seventh-grader Katie Smith was in gym class, her last period before school is let out at 2:30 p.m.
“I was scared when they told us there was a bomb threat,” she said. One of her friends started to cry.
Before long, school officials told the students about the credit union robbery and the likelihood that the bomb threat was a decoy.
Smith said pupils were calm during the lockdown and spent time talking with each other in groups.
All students assembled in the school gym following the search of the school.
School officials said declaring a “code yellow” lockdown and keeping students inside the school is a long-established protocol for such an incident. Freezing temperatures was one of the reasons given to explain why students were not automatically evacuated.
“The kids were absolutely outstanding,” interim Principal Richard Smith said. “I couldn’t be prouder of my students.”
Less calm were the parents waiting outside. About a dozen huddled on a sidewalk just outside school grounds. The temperature was in the teens. Fire trucks were parked in the street nearby.
Several parents had learned of the situation via an automated call, which told them that their student was safe but that there had been a bomb threat at the school. The message reportedly stated more information would be forthcoming.
“I’m not a very patient mom,” said Jennifer Rood, who waited for permission to retrieve her seventh-grader. “I hear bomb threat. I’m here.”
“I’m nervous sick,” said Gabbie McFetridge, who left her tanning business to pick up her seventh-grader.
“These are our babies,” said Sara Arnold, who was anxious to see her daughter, an eighth-grader. “You do not come between a mom and her baby.”
The North Pole fire chief repeatedly encouraged the parents to wait in their vehicles but some parents insisted on waiting outside, closer to the school.
It was about two hours after the end of the school day when the students were finally released. Parents there to pick up their children had to show identification. Students’ names were called out over a loud speaker in the gym.
At the post office in Fairbanks, police called in explosives experts from Eielson Air Force Base to exam the suspicious package, which was found in the loading dock.
Lt. Tara Tippett said the package had been there for hours before someone decided to report it.
The Air Force bomb squad removed the package and later discovered nothing out of the ordinary, a police statement read.
Community Discussion
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Downtown post office sealed off too.
Sounds like "spread 'em thin and win".
MrsS
and people say the local governments need to cut down on their law enforcement spending~
Let me see if I understand this correctly. A bomb threat was called in to North Pole Middle School, and in response, authorities locked down the school and didn't allow anyone to leave. REALLY GOOD PLAN, glad it worked out!!!
I've heard the bank in question was Alaska USA at the Safeway in North Pole.
what kind of trash does this kind of thing?
Drugs usually; where've you been? Yes, AKFCU is in the North Pole Safeway.
that makes a lot of dam sense.bomb threat in school and they lock the kid IN! then north pole middle won`t answer their phone. BULL!
I was working at the Princess Hotel when it had a bomb threat about 5 years ago and authorities EVACUATED the building than did bomb sweeps. Of course it was 75 degrees outside and sunny so that may by why they didn't evacuate but... I am with you on this JayT.
ok first of all i am a np highschool student. it all happend its just a ploy, the elemntary and the middle school were called in as a bomb threat and the post offices shortly later, and in around that time like every cop were there, while the cops were accupide a guy robbed alaska usa in at safeway,
Thank you carpenter304...
just as I suspected when I posted earlier.
Glad you kids are safe.
MrsS
Did you purposely misspell words to appear as a highschool student?
Yota99714...
I didn't ask about the bank.
They keep em inside because the best place to plant a bomb is out front where everyone is picking up their kid(s).
My kids are still at school, they have yet to be released...
Bank robbery=stupid. Minimum seven years and they almost ALWAYS get caught. Be interested in seeing who tried to pull this off. Good plan, just crappy choice of targets. Oh well, let the fun begin. It's a brand old world. Wonder if late 1929 was like this?
And thanks for the report young man. No offense intended, just observing, but perhaps a little more study in that English class may be in order before you get out of high school and have the need for expressing thoughts in the English language in a literate way. That ability WILL come in handy in the real world.
My kid is not in school yet....but if she was, I would be at the school getting her and no one can stop me! What is going on with that? This is strange!
I have a daughter at the school - we were finally allowed to pick the kids up at 4:35.
I also cannot believe they kept the kids in school. This happened right at bus time - they could have easily evacuated the children to their buses.
You had to go in to the school & show ID to pick your kids up.
I think that once they figured out that the bomp threat was an obvious attempt to keep cops busy while a robber robbed a bank they should have lifted the "code yellow" and sent the kids home.
FYI
We just got a call here at the station and all buses from the school are running 3 hours behind schedual.
yes sorry about the spelling,, it was at bus time at the highschool, all highschoolers got to go home we all waited for about 20 min at the school because they had to hold us there, then they dropped us off at star of the north and told us that the middle schoolers could not be released due to many police and FBI at the school. i went to alaska usa and everything is to normal at safeway but the bank will be closed
Well, I'm awfully glad no one got hurt, but I sure wish it would have been Wells Fargo that was robbed!
They'd been stealing from me for years, until I finally got away from them.
Bless you and your children that were involved in such a senseless act of violence. Hard to believe... up here.
Well o.k. I understand the need for policy and procedure but locking the children and staff inside really floors me. Might be time to speak up and voice our opinion on this one.That LDS church across the street would be a good place to evacuate to.Are the kids able to use cell phones during lockdownes?Thank God every one is coming home tonight.Hug 'em tight
well the problem with moving the kids during a BOMB lockdown is when you move them then if there really was a bomb then alot more people could get hurt yes its not right that they kept them but you dont want alot of kids moving around when there could be a bomb who knows if they did move the kids and there wasnt a bomb there could have been somebody out just waiting for people just to shoot them. and i tried to contact 6 people at the middle school they didnt txt me or call me back, i tried the school and they wouldnt pick up either.
Not to draw attention from this scary story and the stupidity of some people...also today at the Downtown Fairbanks post office there were a crazy amount of police vehicles as well. anyone know what that was about?
yes if you had read all of the article there was a bomb threat there to on the post office, the Security forces/bomb squad was at the post office
I attend NPM. I was there, it wasn’t anything bad, but what I don’t get why they didn’t let us leave at four, they already had to whole school checked including the swimming pool. Plus why would you keep students in school when theres a bomb threat??? We should’ve be evacuated to the high school or elementary school or even the church.
To homesteadhannah- well we weren't spose to use cell phones and call home but we did anyways besides people were texting anyways.
opps thanks...lol two kids and trying to read...I guess I didnt see it
like i said more people could have been hurt if they moved you guys to the highschool thats to far, the elementary also had a bombthreat, you guys couldnt leave because they were checking out the area, i went to NPM when we had a fake red alert and it took over 3 hours, and also there were to many police and FBI at your school buses or anybody could get through the road
you would think that they would have a safe place to evacuate the kids to in the event of a bomb threat (or a fire!) even in the middle of winter. An orderly evacuation of the kids by the teachers etc. I think would have been safer than keeping them there. What if there really had been a bomb? There is no garentee that it would have been found and disarmed before going off. I agree with the other parent on here who posted " I would be at the school getting her and no one can stop me! ". Now I understand that having a whole lot of parents arrive to pick up their kids could complicate things. So why don't the athorities search the area around one of the doors (or where ever they feel they need to search) and clear an area safe for evacuation and have the students taken to a predetermined place to be picked up by their parents. There has got to be a better way to handle things than by keeping the kids there under lockdown.
In a bomb threat kids are safer in the classroom than in the halls or common area where 1) a bomb is more likely to be placed than in a classroom which is usually occupied, 2) a bomb could be rigged to a trip wire or motion sensor, 3) a gunman could be waiting to pick kids off when they come out of the classroom or school building. (Remember the school shooting where the gunmen shot kids after the fire alarm was pulled?) Not to mention evacuating the kids out into the cold would not have been good.
Any plan has flaws and can be refined, but this policy makes sense when you think about it.
Where in the hell is Bruce Willis? This sounds like it's straight out of a Die Hard movie. Glad everyone is safe, and the credit union is insured. At least I hope it is...
Also it is interesting that the middle school student's english is far more advanced than that of the high school student.
It's a full moon tonight . . .
Truth4U:
Bingo!
MrsS
I expect a correction from the News-Miner momentarily, to the headline for this story, and in the story, itself.
As I understand it, it was a Credit Union that was robbed, not a Bank.
they did the right thing at the school
im a north pole high student as well
its better to secure the area before they start moveing around a bunch of middle schoolers, their best best was to settle in and wait it out, PERIOD!
Hi,
My name is Ivy Turner and i am a student at np middle school and id like to report that:
1. we were held in class rooms until about 3:45 and
2. we were stuffed in the gym with smelled like a locker room because there were so many student that it might have been about 97 degrees in there and
3. we were not able to leave until about 4:50.
as as student i belive they should have evacuated the building to increase security measures and had a bomb sniffing dog sniff every student because if a student had placed a bomb, they would have a unique scent. and if there was a bomb placed in the school, there had to have been an inside person. no visitor would be able to go anywhere in the school by themselves. there is always a hall and saftey guard available to escort a parent/visitor. and the high schoolers don't know a thing about what happened. they got to go home along with elementary students. the middle schoolers would have gotten to go home at the right time, even with the threat, but they didn't want the elementary kids to be an hour late home. instead us middle schoolers get stuffed in the gym and were 3 HOURS LATE HOME! i appreciate how they wanted us to be safe, but i would have preferred to have been outside than inside.
I work at ACS downtown right across from the downtown post office. Seems like a definite ploy to get the cops spread out. I really hope they catch the people that did this, it was scary not getting to leave my work because of someones stupidity.
I was getting ready to leave safeway when all the officers were showing up, I must compliment them on a job well done. I will have this to add to my Thankful list at thanksgiving that me and my kids are safe and didn't see the bank robber.
What is it they say? Desperate times call for desperate measures? Unfortunately, with the state of the economy I expect this will happen more and more between now and the holidays. I'm just thrilled everyone is safe!
If I were one of the kids I would have just slowly eased on over by a window and gone I would be.
You know that it is really like something from the "Keystone Cops".
It was common diversionary tactics in use.
I can only think of all the people running around, being In Charge, or better yet, normally in charge, but not today, everyone wringing their hands. I would put money on the fact that the students were much more at ease than the people in charge. Who's in charge?? Who's on first.
I wonder if the agencies doing it all were running down the halls going hut hut hut like on the movie The Blues Brothers ha ha.
My hat is off to all of the kids that did so well.
Here is to ya Kids
Anybody that thinks the best plan during a bomb threat, is to lock everybody in the building with the bomb, must work for homeland security. Did they make them take their shoes off, and dump out their water bottles?
For all of you worried about the kids is wonderful but keep in mind, a young women had a gun pointed at her face today due to this selfless person who cant work for his/her money like the rest of us law abiding citizens. I hope they catch this idiot, which they will and bury their A**! This town has gone to the dumps and I personally am tired of it. HIRE MORE COPS! "People who hunt, fish and trap dont rob little old ladies" the best bumper sticker I ever seen! The rest of you thugs, drugies, losers and thiefs get OUT!!!
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Ak_GRae...you said,
"...but I sure wish it would have been Wells Fargo that was robbed!
They'd been stealing from me for years, until I finally got away from them."
That is the nuttiest thing I have ever heard since I've been in Alaska. Are you proud of that statement? Do yourself a favor and utilize the the "Preview comment" button and take a few moments to contemplate what you write before embarrassing yourself.
Unbelievable!
good thing the Fairbanks Police officers still had time to pull people over and ticket them for "tint violations", what with all the bomb threats and bank robberies going on
Alaskangirl, I'd watch what you say on here. I also work at Alaska USA and it would be wise to keep information like that to yourself. If the officials haven't released it yet, than there might be a reason.
I know the amount that was taken, I know the denominations, I know which teller was robbed etc but some of that information may be used to trick a suspect into revealing too much info... wouldn't share it on this forum...
i agree with frozen_drafter alaskangirl. loose lips sink ships.
The school did the right thing. That entire building is a effected area.... you don't let anyone in or out of it. You never know where the person placed the device. Could be when your kids are walking out..... the police know what they are doing.
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(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
I go to the AK USA in Safeway often and I love the people that work there. I am glad you are all safe and I pray that you all are able to find a way to overcome what you have all just been through. To the Parents and Students at NP Middle- I am sorry about your extended stay at school, but had there been a real bomb there, I am sure that keeping your kids where they are minimizes the amount of students that would be hurt. Yes, it was a ploy from what I understand. I am very happy to see that the police in our area were there fast and took all the precautions to see that our kids where safe. (As they could be in a situation like that) It could have gone a completely different way! NPPD and all involved THANK YOU for doing everything in your power to keep our kids and community as safe as you can.
I'm confused. When I was a child and there were bomb threats at my school, they evacuated us. It doesn't make sense to me that you would keep the kids inside. A bomb is reportedly going off in two minutes, and you lock the school down??? I must be missing something.
I am discouraged when I read so many posts by people who appear to use their mouths before thinking things through. I'm wondering how many critics out there wondered whether there's a reason for the protocol.
frozen drafter and alaskan girl,
Perhaps you were both in cahoots to steal the loot!
There's a bomb in the school and lets leave all the kids INSIDE! The best and brightest of North Pole must of come up with that one....
Today's events were a double wammy to me. I work right next to the Downtown Post Office and was very surprised to see all the cops show up. Shortly there after we were informed the we were being locked down due to a bomb threat. If this wasn't bad enough I got an automated call from the school district that North Pole Middle School(my son attends NPM) was being locked down due to a bomb threat. I went from worried to panicked. I called my friend who informed me the kids were OK but they weren't aloud to leave. She also told me that the AKUSA had been robbed and that NP Safeway was alos locked down. At that moment I felt like the whole world had gone crazy. We were aloud to leave shortly after 4pm. My son wasn't released until almost 5pm.
Update as to why the kids were not released. This is just hearsay, but I heard that the person who made the bomb threat said the bomb would be detonated if anyone left the school. Again I don't know if that's true or not.
Now it sounds like a Dick Tracy story.
Ihave lived in the area for over 30yrs and this town is not getting any smarter.
The Sky is Falling
And yet I moved out in the middle of nowhere, North pole AK to get away from stuff like this. I hope they catch the people involved quickly and throw more than a book at them. I too, think the kids should have been moved. Coming from the largest military base in the free world I have been through my share of bomb threats. We were always moved, always! If you work at AKUSA or Safeway please do not spread any rumors or release any information. Finally I am glad that everyone involved is safe, except for the robber, I hope they find him and string him up by his toenails!
Ringo,we don't need to hire more cops.That would not have helped in this situation.There are already way to many gung hoe cops with too much time on there hands.In case you haven't noticed,the police force in this once great country has more than tripled since 911.We now live in an early stage police state.Careful what you ask for ringo it just might come true,you may live to see the day that you regret that request.What we need was all the people in that store to pull out their arms,and tell the would be robber that he is heavily out gunned ,put that pea shooter down,before somebody gets hurt.
An AKUSA employee has just RATTED OUT a co-worker.
That Stinking RAT
Feelin Good are you RAT ????
What part of gunman outside ready to pick kids off and bombs going off when a mass of kids start to evacuate are some of you people not getting??? Seems like no matter what the authorities do its people like you who will complain that its not right. Glad all the kids are safe! I would say getting home alive is more important than getting home on time in this case. Glad the ladies at AKUSA are safe as well. Hope the disturbed individual is caught and punished accordingly!
How come the news miner has not deleted the comment that gives details about the robbery. I also like how the poster writes that the "construction workers just let him run away." Yeah just like you did.
Regarding the schools: allowed people, now aloud!
what type of punishment do you recommend?
Did anyone on here complaining about them not letting the kids out actually take the call from the person who made the threat? Do you know for sure that they didnt say..."If I see anyone coming out of the school I am going to detonate the bomb."? None of us know anything for sure. I hear a bunch of people complaining who think they know better. Quit watching so much CSI or whatever. Stop making assumptions and gossiping. This is what causes panic. This is how when a guy calls Mr. Hand a D**k it blows up into that he pulled a knife on him.
Hello, I'm a student at the North Pole High school. Once school got out at 2:15 we were having to wait for about 20 minutes before we actually got to leave. So in that 20 minutes I was able to have one of my friends on the bus with me text one of our friends that was stuck there. So we figured out it was a bomb threat(This you all know). So I was disappointed that the school would keep the kids in the school building with a possible bomb, because if it did go off (depending on how powerful it would be)could cause some damage. SO depend on if the blast was powerful enough, a lot of kids could get hurt, but if the kids were able to get out and away they could have a chance. Now The North Pole Middle School did what they did and no one got hurt, but just for the future.
There is also the possibility of some one just drawing them out, yes this could be a possibility, but that's partially what teachers are supposed to help with, it's not like they are going to send the kids freak out and run out in the hall instantly. Even in a fire drill most of the teachers go out first. No, no one should die, but honestly, have a kid POSSIBLY getting shot or a teacher that might have a chance. I had most of the teachers there or at least know them a little and they are all good people, I really enjoyed all my classes there and I HIGHLY doubt ANY of them would want any of the kids to get hurt in any way shape or form.
Now how in the world did this guy rob a Credit Union with out a gun, did he have any weapon at all?
It's company policy that bank workers must hand over the money if demanded and declared a robbery, it's all downhill from there with or without a weapon. Using a weapon just adds to the original robbery charge.
Speaking from the point of view of a former bank employee, if this really is connected in any way (which it probably is), it was actually smarter than what I give most bank robbers credit for. I worked in the Raleigh, NC area and the branch I worked in was robbed twice in less than six months. Our robbers weren't that smart either time, although the first did take his note with him. Neither was caught by the Raleigh PD. I would say the majority of bank robbers don't get caught. It may be different in this area, but nothing ever came of what I experienced ten years ago. I just hope the people working in the credit union can go back to work and still feel safe. I know how it feels to walk back in that next day.
As for the bomb threat and conduct of the school, I would like to think that the plan the school has in place is a sound one. I would agree with others that a common area would be the best place to put a bomb. It was obviously a distraction anyway, but I don't question the policy they enforced. I think it was a sound one and has plenty of good reasoning behind it.
Thanks Opsamk, since I'm only in High School I don't know these things. But I apparently read one of the comments wrong about the robber having a gun or not so I apologize.
mntnmx~ No, none of us took the phone call but the officials are trained to handle these situations. I do respect that they did what they needed, but having been in that situation and as a Mother of a North Pole student. I personally think the kids should have been moved. Again, this is just an opinion....FYI here is a link of the UAF Bomb threat procedures, hmm... seems the rule of thumb is once the police arrive and evaluate the threat, the building should be evacuated. I don't think it would take "hours" to evaluate the halls of NPMS
http://www.uaf.edu/safety/bomb_threat.ht...
My son said it was over an hour after the lockdown was declared before the students were told it was because of a bomb threat. Some made incorrect assumptions and were sending text messages to friends.
Several of us parents were standing in the high school parking lot when one got a call from his daughter, who attends the high school, saying that she got a text from her friend at the middle school saying there had been a shooting. I think it would be better to disseminate as much information as possible, as soon as possible, rather than let rumors begin. The kids were told not to use their cell phones, but some chose not to listen. When we asked a trooper at the high school about it he said "the official line right now is an alleged bomb threat." Not the most reassuring answer. I applaud all of the agencies who responded and I know everyone was doing the best they could to protect our kids. I am not going to question their procedures, as I don't know all of the particulars. I do hope they will review todays events and make any necessary adjustments to the emergency response plan.
This is just my observation.
It seems like folks are acting like back seat drivers.
How about, not second guessing the Police already.
And stand back, & let them do their investigations.
Do your job as a Alaskan citizen.
Watch, listen and report anyone you observe acting suspicious.
Most robbers, steal the $, so they can immediately buy something.
Let it be booze, drugs, car, snow machine etc.
As for the lock down.
I have grandkids in North Pole.
And they were a lot safer, IN the HEATED school.
Then they would of been OUTSIDE, in 10deg. weather!!
Imagine how much of a goat rope it would of been. If 800 parents came to the school grounds, looking for little Johnny or Suzi.
Give thanks to God, that no one was hurt.
Take care, be safe.
God bless.
Chris - Alaska
Pixy...would the rule of thumb be to move those kids if someone said move em and they die? Again none of us have any idea what info was passed on when the threat was called in. I dont know how long it would take to evaluate the situation but I would kind of hope it would take hours and not just have the Po-po go in there and after 5 minutes say...ok everyone out. Id be more interested in finding out who the person that wrote that UAF bomb threat SOP is to see what their background is. Do they have experience in these situations or did they just download a basic sheet off the internet. I also noticed it hasnt been updated in over 3 years. I would have to think new things have been learned in the world of bomb threats. Being the Uncle of a NPMS student I too thought...They are keeping them in a building where a bomb is...HUH? But again we have no idea the full situation.
i dont see how that was smart calling in a bomb threat in a town the size of np all that did was get every state trooper and fed heading toward np two minutes before you rob a bank not smart at all
robberies dont bother me anymore,ive been getting robbed at the gas pump twice a week for quite some time now.
The minute the police learned that the bank had been robbed I think they would have realized that this was an obvious distraction and had the children leave out the rear cafeteria door & get on their buses.
My daughters all thought that yellow lock down meant that there was an intruder in the school.
That being said, my middle school daughter told me that they were up front about the bomb threat immediately, they also let the kids know that the credit union was robbed and they thought this was just something to keep the police busy. So, they did give the kids the information. Although my child was panicked to learn there was a bomb threat and they were suppose to stay in the school.
A student named Ivy from NPMS posted earlier that no visitor would be able to go anywhere in the school by themselves. This is totally untrue. If you walk in NPMS from the front door the people at the office cannot see you as it does not face the front door and the side that would face the front door has a brick wall up against it. There is never anyone standing duty at the front door. I could walk in that school today and take an immediate right and they would never see me - there is also a set of stairs before you get to the office. The school entrance is set up horribly and I think that may need to be addressed! I've met my daughter many times at the school - bypassed the front office and was never questioned by anyone.
If you go directly to the office then they get a person that works at the school to walk you to your children's class. How many criminals are going to go that route...
alaskaway... my my my aren't we witty *rolling eyes*
Great work Sherry. I understand your concerns, but did you have to put NPMS security shortcomings right out here for everyone (including all the sickos of this world) to discover. Good job, I'm sure the school is safer after your comment.
wow all of you seem to become more rude to each other every day... being faceless has it's downfalls doesn't it?
Maybe after airing the concerns something will finally be done about them. Do you realize that all of the middle & high schools are set up this way??
Air your concerns at district head quarters or with the school board. Airing your concerns on this message board does not make the situation better or more safe. In my opinion, it may entice someone with the most awful intentions, to take advantage of the situation.
BTW not all high/middle schools are set up this way, when's the last time you've been out to Eielson High School?
You know for those that are second guessing the police, I think you should. If my kid were in there I would want to know the reasons behind keeping my kids IN harms way. Now with that said I am sure that the police and school have a policy that they follow for these kinds of events. Let's hope that they have different plans for all types of scenerios. For other people to say let the police handle it--well that is just fine and dandy if it isn't your flesh and blood in danger. If it is your kids in there--then yes- question it! The school should announce their policies so that the parents are kept informed and not in the dark--in the event of an emergency.
Where I am from we never had a bomb threat, but we had tornados frequently. If a tornado warning was issued--school was let out. Seems kinda silly to let a bunch of kids out into a bad storm. Although I was there when we only had a warning of about 10 min, teachers ushered us into the gym and the tornado proceeded to rip the roof off the gym where all the kids were. After that I understood why they wanted us out of the school in those cases.
I've never been out to Eielson & don't even think their situation is relevant - they have security at the gate.
I have been in other schools in the district though.
The elementary schools are set up properly - when you walk in the front door you are staring straight at a front desk manned with secretaries.
I have aired my opinion about this before - when we had the "gun incident". So, as you can see that did not change anything.
I will remove my comment as I can see where you are coming from - but, I doubt that many criminals plan out their acts of revenge while reading the daily news miner message board.
Sherry
Bet they won't check from fingerprints on the nearby
public phone, next to AKFCU office. I stopped reading
mystery novels, now I just read the newspaper.
Probably an inside job....... things don't add up.
The threat was a bomb OUTSIDE,in the parking lot and the person said if they released any children, they would set it off. All three if my kids go there, and thats what they were told, and thats why they were kept inside.
Regardless of an obvious smokescreen, they still have to take all the proper precautions.
In addition to what has already been said, there was an incident I remember (I think Arkansas), where a bomb threat was used to cause an evacuation. The kid who called in the threat then proceeded to shoot people while they were standing outside. It has been awhile, but I think this happened maybe the same year (or after) Columbine. I remember due the incident in Arkansas some schools in Missouri (where I lived at the time) made it a policy that during bomb threats students were to be moved to a designated area under teacher supervision until a thorough search outside of the school could be conducted. I'm not familiar with North Pole School Districts policies, but I'm sure they had a good reason for not ordering an immediate evacuation.
I am a NPMS parent I have a few concerns, for one it took a hour for the call to reach me saying my child was in lock down due to a bomb threat. Two when you have a child in a situation like this, let them call you, (the parent). The first word out of my son's mouth was why did you wait so long to get me? He didn't understand that we as parents were not allowed to go into the school. If he was able to call me I would have let him know that I was outside waiting. I hope and pray they find this guy because I sure have a bone to pick with him myself. For all of you who think you know it all, YOU DON'T. Get over yourself and let us as parents and the school work this out.
I tried to get the Newsminer to remove my concerns over the way the school entrance is set up. Apparantly they don't want to. I suggested removal - is there any way I can take that out on my own??
It is an obvious concern, but sourdough was right about my stating it here.
lagirl, I don't know here you are from but I grew up in Kansas. Whenever we had a tornado drill, and air raid drills (we had them back then) we were kept in the building in the middle hall. Taught to get down, put our heads between our legs, and like my dad said, kiss your buns goodbye.
As far as how they handled the bomb threat at NPMS, they did the right thing. If there had been a bomb, it would of been in a vehicle outside the building and detonated when the children left the building or when the emergency crews arrived.
Also during such a situation would be an opportune time for someone to kidnap a child. That is why they asked for parents to show ID before picking up your child. They did the row call to make sure all was accounted for.
My grandchildren go to that school and I am glad the law enforcement followed the correct procedures. I do think the schools need to have drills so the children are prepared for such situations. In lower 48 they practice for drive by shootings also.
i think your fine addressing the school entrance here. cnn is always informing us of the most vulnerable targets for terrorists. im sure alot of the parents here aren't aware of this small detail, and maybe ALL of them can bring it to the attention of the school district. when i attended npms thirty years ago, that same entrance is where we snuck into school being late, from skipping class or sneaking a smoke. as for whether they should of evacuated or not should also be addressed, what if is was forty below? i'm glad to hear your children are safe
With regards to the evacuation vs. lock down debate concerning the bomb threat, does anyone remember the 1998 Arkansas Middle School shooting? Some kid inside pulled the fire alarm and two teenage accomplices were laying in wait outside. They immediately evacuated the building, 5 students were killed and 11 wounded. Therefore, with that hindsight the authorities would rather investigate before making the same mistake again.