Acting on a bomb threat that was discovered written on a Rye High School bathroom wall October 21, RHS Principal Patricia Taylor notified Rye Police and declared an evacuation at approximately 9:30 a.m. for both the  High and Middle schools.

 

Tom McDermott

 

Acting on a bomb threat that was discovered written on a Rye High School bathroom wall October 21, RHS Principal Patricia Taylor notified Rye Police and declared an evacuation at approximately 9:30 a.m. for both the High and Middle schools.

 

After the evacuation. school staff and RPD officers escorted RHS students to Midland School and RMS students to Osborn School safely and without incident.

 

Commissioner Pease and Chief Fire Inspector Kurt Tietjen were together in a meeting at City Hall when they got the alert within seconds of each other. RPD called in the Westchester County Special Operations Division’s Hazardous Devices Unit. Commissioner Pease told the paper that the unit, aided by three bomb-sniffing dogs along with RPD and RFD personnel made an extremely thorough search and declared the building safe.

 

With that, Principal Taylor gave a loud whistle to some of the school staff waiting across Parsons Street to let them know they could return. And, by 11:30 a.m. students could be seen walking south along Milton Road returning to the school.

 

Pease praised the quick action and organization skills exhibited by all school personnel, his own officers, RFD, and the County. In a statement, Schools Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez also praised RPD and the Westchester County unit for their swift response. He gave a special thanks to Principal Taylor, RMS Principal Ann Edwards, and the entire faculty, staff, and security team for their response.

 

Rye Police were hopeful that cameras inside the building would help them to discover who left the message on the wall.