Increased security Friday at Hartford Union H.S. following threat



HARTFORD -- Hartford Union High School students saw increased security as they returned to school Friday, October 5th following a bomb threat. Officials say the threat was discovered on a bathroom wall Wednesday, October 3rd.

Officials say the hand-written threat at Hartford Union High School was discovered on a bathroom wall and implied an explosive device would be detonated at the school on a future date. The EOD unit was called shortly after that.

A complete search of the school was done and no explosive devices were located. At this point, officials believe the threat is a “copycat” offense. But the specific contents of the note discovered are not being released for investigative reasons.

On Friday, students were granted controlled access to the high school through a single access point in the school's field house. As they entered, they were taken through a security screening process. Hartford officers provided security during those activities.

Hartford Union High School is the fourth school in three weeks that have received threats.

Following a series of bomb threats at area high schools in recent weeks — including two separate incidents on Tuesday (one in Racine and another in Grafton), and one last month at Greendale High School, school leaders are stressing that there are consequences for students who make these threats. Officials say bomb threats are disruptive, and practical joke or not, the threats cost money and haunt some students for the rest of their lives.

In his statement, Sheriff Clarke says he supports Wisconsin legislators who have proposed a law calling for those accused of making bomb threats be charged with felonies, punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both.

A 17-year-old Greendale student was charged with disorderly conduct Monday, October 1st for a bomb threat that disrupted Greendale High School’s Homecoming activities.

On Tuesday, a 14-year-old student from Racine Park High School was apprehended for recklessly endangering safety and possession of explosive materials, after a suspicious device was found in the high school.

Anyone with information regarding the bomb threat at Hartford Union High School is encouraged to contact the Hartford Police Department at 262-673-2600

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