Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School police report false kidnapping claim at Davis; district notes uptick in runaway reports and upcoming active‑shooter training
Summary
Brockton school police described a false attempted‑kidnapping report near Davis School on March 11 and said the student who made the false claim will be charged. Officers also reported an increase in runaways and outlined upcoming active‑shooter and drone training.
Captain Mark Picarro of the Brockton Police Department briefed the school committee on March 18 about school safety operations, training and recent incidents, including a false attempted‑kidnapping report near the Davis School and a rise in students running away from home.
Why it matters: False reports and runaway incidents cause large police responses, concern among parents, and resource allocation decisions for school and public safety staff. The district and police are coordinating prevention and follow‑up services.
Picarro reported that on March 11 a Davis School student reported an attempted kidnapping near the school at dismissal. The department conducted a large response; investigators later determined the report was false and the student will face a charge stemming from the false statement, Picarro said.
He told the committee there has also been a recent uptick in children running away from home; police and school staff have been working to return students and provide follow‑up supports. School staff, social‑emotional teams and the district’s juvenile‑justice partners attend recurring community‑based juvenile justice meetings to coordinate intervention and prevention for at‑risk youth, he said.
Training: Picarro listed recent and planned training activities. During February break school police conducted drone and active‑shooter training and scheduled a similar session for March 22. In April the Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) will provide ALERT (advanced law enforcement rapid response) active‑shooter training at Brockton High; Picarro said about 10 Brockton police officers, eight school police officers and 10 fire personnel were expected to attend.
Other items: The traffic commission will produce replacement 15‑mph signs for the high school using in‑house resources, and Picarro said school police are collaborating with teachers on civics projects. Committee members asked about follow‑up services to address underlying causes for runaways and false reporting; district staff said cases receive individualized follow‑up that can include social‑emotional supports and school leadership.
Ending: Police and school staff said they will continue joint work on prevention, training and case‑by‑case supports and that the committee will be updated on significant developments.
