Handgun recovered at North Penn High; board, police and community press for clearer communications and broader use of detection system

A student at North Penn High School was found to be carrying a handgun this week, school officials told the board at its Oct. action meeting. District staff and Tomlinson and Lansdale police located the student and escorted him to the security office; a search later that day recovered a handgun and the student was taken into custody.

Doctor Bauer said the school’s coordinator of emergency management and safe schools, Mr. Roan, notified police; school security staff identified and escorted the student through the courtyard to the security office and the Talmondson Township Police responded. From the time the district received the report to the moment the student was in the security office, Bauer said, was “two minutes.” The parent was contacted, staff and administrators were notified, and a search yielded a handgun that resulted in the student’s arrest.

The district worked with Chief Troxell on communications. Bauer said the police chief shared his information at 7:06 a.m. the following day and the district sent a message to families at 7:34 a.m.; a follow-up…