Police officers in Marlboro, Jackson and three other New Jersey communities responded to disturbing phone calls that were received by school administrators on Jan. 4.
According to the Jackson Police Department, at 10:43 a.m. Jan. 4 a call was received at the Rosenauer School from a person who indicated that an individual armed with a weapon was en route to the school and would be there shortly.
Police said administrators immediately placed the school in a shelter in place situation (a type of security drill) and contacted police. Officers were dispatched to the school.
Police later reported that an investigation into the matter was ongoing, but said there did not appear to be any merit to the call.
Jackson police said although no threats were made to any other schools, the district’s other facilities were placed in a modified shelter in place situation out of an abundance of caution.
At 10:58 a.m. Jan. 4 in Marlboro, police officers responded to the Marlboro Jewish Center Annex on Topanemus Road in reference to a phone call that was received by the staff. The building hosts a preschool.
“The suspicious call was described as a vague threat that was made by phone to the school staff,” Marlboro Police Capt. Fred Reck said. “The caller was not specific and the police department is investigating the call as a false public alarm.”
When officers arrived at the school, staff members advised them they had received a phone call from a person which caused them to move the children to the Frank J. Dugan Elementary School a short distance away on Topanemus Road, according to police.
The Dugan school is part of the Marlboro K-8 School District.
An investigation determined there was no danger to the safety of the children or to the Marlboro Jewish Center Annex, according to police. The pupils were escorted back to their building from the Dugan school at 12:27 p.m.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department responded and assisted with the investigation. The Marlboro Fire Department, the Marlboro First Aid Squad and the Marlboro Board of Education assisted with the incident and the sheltering of the children. The investigation is being handled by Marlboro Detective Edward Ungrady.
