Divine Redeemer gun threat; parents say they weren't immediately told of incident
HARTLAND, Wis. - Divine Redeemer Lutheran School parents are expressing concern after they say they went days without knowing about a threat on campus.
"If a gun threat comes up that’s what a parent should know"
One parent agreed to speak with FOX6 News, but he asked not to be identified because he's afraid of repercussions from the school.
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He said a gun threat was made on the school campus on Dec. 17. The parent said an unnamed student threatened to bring a gun and shoot at female classmates.
"If a gun threat comes up, that’s what a parent should know," the parent said. "That was our biggest issue. I think there was no accountability really taken other than just an apology."
He said the Delafield Police Department was not notified until Dec. 20 and parents did not find out details until a parent safety meeting on Wednesday night, Jan. 8.
"That's more or less every parent wants to know the plan moving forward of how if this happens again, are we all going to be notified? Is the school going to be shut down? Those are the things people wanted answers," the parent said.
Multiple parents told FOX6 that after we contacted the school, they received a letter with a warning. It reminds them that they signed a parent agreement when they enrolled their child in the school.
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"They sent out an email today saying we signed something in our handbook stating that we won't disparage the school," a parent said. "I don't think anyone is disparaging the school, we just want answers."
The Delafield Police Department said the case has been reported to the Division of Juvenile Corrections.
School response
Divine Redeemer provided the following statement:
"Divine Redeemer Lutheran School (DRLS) received notification of an alleged statement made by a student concerning a gun. The school immediately commenced its own internal investigation, and also followed school safety protocols to alert the Delafield Police Department, who responded and conducted a comprehensive investigation while the student was off campus. After investigation, DRLS in collaboration with Delafield Police Officers, determined it was a non-credible threat and posed no danger to the school or community. The school took disciplinary action. At no time were the students in danger during this process. The student is no longer enrolled at DRLS.
Delafield Police Chief, Landon Nyren, reassured our school community in a parent safety meeting that the school followed all safety protocols.
Divine Redeemer Lutheran School (DRLS) is guided by the Christian concept that human beings, though created in God's perfect image, have tainted that image through sin and are in need of a Savior, who is Jesus Christ. The Bible calls us, as faithful Christians, to serve others. We focus more on what we can give than what we want to receive. At DRLS, this includes the way we serve those who are in the same classroom and building, as well as those who are in our surrounding community and around the world."