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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF PASCACK PRESS
EMERSON, NJ—School officials appeared to downplay a student’s mumbled threat to do harm, but police confirm at least one charge will be leveled against a 13-year-old boy in the matter and said another charge might follow.
Emerson Police Chief Michael Mazzeo told Pascack Press on May 18 that his detectives are continuing to investigate what he called a May 9 “terroristic threat” incident by a seventh-grader at Emerson Junior-Senior High School.
“It was alarming what was said,” Mazzeo said.
Mazzeo said at press time that his report on the incident will be issued soon. He emphasized that his focus is to make sure his department and the school district partner well.
“We should all work together so there’s not a bigger problem down the road,” he said.
Due to the suspect’s age, the matter would proceed through the state’s juvenile justice system, also known as Family Court.
Gatens reacts
Superintendent of Schools Brian Gatens told Pascack Press that “The district has been clear that there was not credible threat against the school building. It was presented to us that the child was not a danger to himself or others through our internal review as well as an outside evaluator and we proceeded as such.”
He added, “We are comfortable with the way we proceeded. What we did not know at the time was this was based upon conflict with a fellow student.”
Following a local parent’s online tirade blaming the school district for not notifying police of a possible threat, Gatens said the threat was deemed not credible.
He slammed “irresponsible” social media postings for spreading misinformation including “half truths, outright falsehoods, and other confusing information.”
In her video, local mom Stefanie El-Ansari accused the district of not notifying police of a threat allegedly made by a middle school student to shoot classmates—and of downplaying the threat. She also accused the district of lying about notifying police of the situation.
Gatens said that was never the case.
“There was never a credible threat to the safety and security of Emerson Junior-Senior High School. The ‘threat’ once shared with and then investigated by the administration was established to be the outgrowth of middle school life and is an example of how an out-of-context and overheard statement can mutate into so much more,” Gatens wrote parents May 13.
Gatens said El-Ansari called police before administrators did, “adding to the confusion.”
Gatens said local police and his office have “a strong relationship […] and we are grateful for their assistance in following up in this matter.”
In his letter to parents, Gatens said “school and district administrators are well versed in what a credible threat looks and sounds like and upon being received would immediately contact the necessary authorities.”
Gatens wrote that the “appropriate response to this situation […] was to circle back with the authorities to bring them into the loop. This is as opposed to a situation requiring an immediate response. We know what situations call for those responses.”
Social media fallout
In emails to students and parents, Gatens expressed frustration about how social media spreads misinformation and urged parents not to trust information circulating on social media.
“I am unable to go into details out of respect for the privacy of the family, but the child who is the victim here of rumor-mongering and vicious internet comments should never have to experience that. We are a better community than that,” Gatens wrote.
Gatens spent three hours in his office on Saturday morning, May 12, to answer questions and concerns from parents.
“My goal in doing so is to provide an opportunity to address the frenzy of miscommunication and misunderstanding generated by social media,” he wrote.
“Invariably, accurate school district information will NOT be found on social media,” he wrote.
Gatens sent a separate email to grade 7–12 students on May 13 asking them to share concerns they might have “with any staff member at any time. Experience has shown that students are the best avenue to help identify fellow students who are struggling with personal challenges, and a confidential conversation with a teacher has led to many of your classmates getting the help that they need.”
“You are not being a ‘snitch’ when you act in the best interests of your classmates,” he wrote.
“What is also worth noting is the bind that school districts find themselves. On one hand they have a legal and professional requirement to look into matters that arise and must preserve a student and family’s right to privacy while doing so, and yet are up against the onslaught of social media speculation that brings unnecessary heat to a situation. It is a difficult line to walk for all school districts,” Gatens told Pascack Press May 17.