School resource officers describe bomb-threat response, renewed lockdown drills and youth engagement program

School resource officers and district safety staff told the board about a bomb threat at Albany Options School that prompted a multiagency response and identified a juvenile suspect from outside the district.

Officer Jen Williams and a colleague described the threat: an email was sent to administrators the night before school; administrators and school resource officers responded the next morning, coordinated with buses and dispatch, and kept students and staff safe. Investigators subsequently executed search warrants and charged a juvenile from Benton County with two counts of first-degree disorderly conduct, the officers said. The district said the youth was not a student in Greater Albany Public SD.

School officers described changes to the district’s lockdown schedule: beginning the prior week, the district runs lockdown drills on Tuesdays and Thursdays, conducting three lockdowns a day (two elementary and one secondary) so that staff and patrol officers can efficiently practice response procedures. Officers also described work with principals to reduce vulnerabilities such as inconsistent key rings and window blinds that do not close reliably.

Separately, staff described a youth engagement program previously run by the Albany Safety Foundation that will be relaunched as LEAD (Learn, Engage, Achieve, Develop) this spring. The program will bring selected middle-school students to the police department for recognition events and community-building activities.

Officer Jen Williams told the board this was her last meeting before her April retirement; the district said another school resource officer will be introduced at the next board meeting.

Board members thanked SROs for their work and asked about the district’s building security measures and coordination with partners.