Bomb Threat Discovered at North Middle School

School district officials and the Menomonee Falls Police Department are continuing their investigation of a potential bomb threat made at North Middle School Tuesday.

According to Falls Police Capt. Mark Waters and District Superintendent Patricia Greco, graffiti discovered within the school indicated the possibility of a bomb threat. Waters said the investigation is ongoing, and didn’t release what the threat was or where it was located in the school.

North Middle School Prinicipal Lynn Grimm sent a voicemail to parents Tuesday, and Greco sent a letter stating that they were investigating the threat. However, both indicated that the threat had not caused eminent danger for students or staff. Both police officers and a canine unit performed a search of the school Tuesday.

“Please talk to your children tonight about the serious nature of making these types of threats. These investigations involve a lot of police time and expense,” stated Greco in a letter to parents. “Individuals making false threats will be charged criminally and held financially responsible. We take these threats very seriously, and students will be held accountable for their actions.”

Last week, Waters said police investigated a potential gun threat made via Facebook involving Menomonee Falls High School. However, Waters said police interviewed the subjects involved and deemed the threat wasn’t credible. Officers advised the author of the posts about the serious nature and ramifications of language on the Internet.

On Wednesday, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke called for stiffer consequences for individuals found guilty of making a threat. According to Patch’s media partners at FOX6, Clarke said he supports legislators who proposed a law calling for those accused of making bomb threats to be charged with felonies immediately.

He said Milwaukee County sheriffs have responded to 10 threats over the past year, which resulted in two arrests.

On Sept. 20, a 17-year-old Greendale High School student was arrested for writing a similar bomb threat on the boys bathroom wall at the school. His exploits caused school administrators to cancel Homecoming festivities. It was the second threat police responded to within a year at the school. The teen is facing felony chargers in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

In March, a Falls high school student was charged with threatening to “shoot up” the school during an altercation with police and staff. In 2011, a student at Hamilton High School made a bomb threat by writing in the bathroom as well.

“Take a moment tonight to discuss the ramifications with your child before any decision is made that might impact their personal records, place them within the court system, and impact your family financially,” Greco stated. “While we understand children sometimes don’t use sound judgment, we ask you talk to your children about the seriousness of making any threat.”