Boise School District emphasizes security after leaked bulletin shows ‘safety concern’
The Boise School District emphasized its security procedures and emergency preparedness after a leaked Ada County Sheriff’s Office bulletin shared a safety concern.
In an email sent to district families and staff Wednesday, the district said it received an officer safety bulletin earlier this week from the Boise Police Department and shared it with school administrators and front office staff “as a precautionary measure.”
The bulletin was leaked on social media and stoked fears among parents and staff and questions over why it wasn’t shared more widely, according to the district’s email.
The Boise School District didn’t share additional information about the post and didn’t confirm which post it referenced. But a post on the Treasure Valley Police Scanner Facebook group, which was also shared on Reddit, showed an officer safety bulletin from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office about a man who had shown interest in mass shooting incidents and searched schools on his cellphone. The bulletin said law enforcement is monitoring him.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office said Boise police had shared the confidential officer safety bulletin with the Boise School District. The information was meant for law enforcement officers “to be aware that this individual had been released from custody and is now being monitored by ACSO probation officers,” the post said.
The Sheriff’s Office discouraged action from the public and said there was no reason to take the person into custody. The person was sentenced for a telephone harassment misdemeanor and a probation violation. He “is being monitored according to the terms of his probation,” the agency wrote.
In the email, the Boise School District outlined some of its safety measures, including locking exterior doors, requiring background checks for visitors, working with school resource officers and reviewing and revising its emergency response plans.
“At the Boise School District, nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students and staff,” district administration said in the email. “We remain fully committed to ensuring that every person in our schools is safe, and we take every necessary step to protect them.”
The district said it takes every report it receives seriously and “investigates promptly.” Administration also said the district will review its communications practices with families and staff on its safety and security measures and “our role in the release of information we receive from law enforcement.”
The district encouraged the public to report any concerns or unsafe situations at school to administrators and law enforcement at 208-343-COPS.
This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 2:46 PM.
