griz
Member
Interesting story with a lot unsaid. Here is the link. The article will probably expire tomorrow so here is the text:
NEWPORT NEWS -- A plainclothes police officer created a stir at Warwick High School on Wednesday afternoon when an employee saw a pistol on her and alerted a secretary who summoned police.
The possibility of an armed woman at the high school brought a heavy police response as well as the fire department's bomb squad. Wednesday was the last day of summer school, and the only people in the building at 3:20 p.m. were office staff and employees in the adult education program, said Michelle Morgan, spokeswoman for Newport News schools.
Police poured into the neighborhood and school officials quickly evacuated the school.
As members of the tactical team were preparing to take positions around the school off Warwick Boulevard, officers were on the phone with the woman, who by then had left the building, police spokesman Lou Thurston said.
"Once we got a good description from the witness, we had a pretty good idea who it might be," he said. He said the possibility that they were wrong necessitated the heavy response.
Thurston wouldn't identify the officer, other than say she was in plainclothes and went to the school on personal business.
Morgan said the aide who saw the holstered pistol didn't see a badge, which according to Officer Harold Eley, violates department policy. The policy states the weapon must be concealed when in public, or the officer's badge must be visible next to the weapon.
"She had no identification that let the employee know she was a police officer," Morgan said.
The police department is investigating.
NEWPORT NEWS -- A plainclothes police officer created a stir at Warwick High School on Wednesday afternoon when an employee saw a pistol on her and alerted a secretary who summoned police.
The possibility of an armed woman at the high school brought a heavy police response as well as the fire department's bomb squad. Wednesday was the last day of summer school, and the only people in the building at 3:20 p.m. were office staff and employees in the adult education program, said Michelle Morgan, spokeswoman for Newport News schools.
Police poured into the neighborhood and school officials quickly evacuated the school.
As members of the tactical team were preparing to take positions around the school off Warwick Boulevard, officers were on the phone with the woman, who by then had left the building, police spokesman Lou Thurston said.
"Once we got a good description from the witness, we had a pretty good idea who it might be," he said. He said the possibility that they were wrong necessitated the heavy response.
Thurston wouldn't identify the officer, other than say she was in plainclothes and went to the school on personal business.
Morgan said the aide who saw the holstered pistol didn't see a badge, which according to Officer Harold Eley, violates department policy. The policy states the weapon must be concealed when in public, or the officer's badge must be visible next to the weapon.
"She had no identification that let the employee know she was a police officer," Morgan said.
The police department is investigating.
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