POUGHKEEPSIE – Poughkeepsie City School District officials have announced that a student was arrested on March 10 after being found in possession of a weapon inside of the building. Mid-Hudson News reported earlier Friday that the student is said to be in the eighth grade.
When asked on Thursday how a realistic looking gun, later discovered to be a BB gun, was able to make it past security, School Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser said, “The facts associated with this incident are not fully clear and an internal investigation into this matter is in progress.” District officials say that the standard process for students to gain entry into the school is for them to pass through a metal detector and for security personnel to check their bags.
In a statement released Friday, the district announced new security measures. On Friday morning, Poughkeepsie Middle School added new protocols to maintain the safety of the school community, including the following:
- All students passed through two layers of metal detection.
- Students’ outerwear and book bags were thoroughly checked.
- Additional staff was deployed to facilitate this morning’s process.
- A Student Safety Assembly was scheduled for Friday to address the entire student body.
- Throughout the day, all entry doors will be frequently checked.
- Dutchess County Department of Community and Behavioral Health personnel were also on-site Friday to support any student or staff needing social-emotional support.
“It is imperative that our schools remain havens for children to pursue their academic studies and encounter positive experiences to develop as youth. In order to preserve our children’s right to do this, it is critically important that we remain vigilant against those who are seeking to disrupt this,” Rosser said.
