The St. Joseph County Police Department has a large police presence at several Penn-Harris-Madison Schools as they investigate a potential threat that was called in around 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, involving a firearm.

Bittersweet Elementary, Schmucker Middle School, Pennway Alternative School, and Penn High School were all placed on lockdown.

St. Joseph County Police say all students are safe. No shots have been fired and no injuries have been reported.

They are working directly with Penn officials as the investigation remains ongoing.

PHM Schools sent the following information to parents/families:

Dear Penn High School, Pennway, Schmucker Middle School, and Bittersweet Elementary Parent/Guardian,

This letter is to inform you that today, October 28th, Penn High School received a phone call to Penn High School’s Main Office describing a threat outside the school. The call was specific to Penn High School. Per the I Love You Guys Standard Response Protocol, Penn High School was put in Secure mode. Out of an abundance of caution, Director of Safety and Student Services Tommy Teeter also placed Schmucker Middle School, Bittersweet Elementary School, Pennway Alternative School, the Penn Fieldhouse, and P-H-M’s Office of Technology (which is near Penn Fieldhouse) in Secure mode.

Mr. Tommy Teeter in partnership with our SRO’s and local law enforcement are actively investigating this incident as a swatting incident outside the building. Swatting incidents are defined as “prank calls” that are meant to disrupt an organization’s normal activity by causing panic and sending police to the location.

Because the schools are in Secure mode this means that all outside doors are locked with no one being allowed in the building. Students and staff remain in the building and business is conducted as usual with an increased awareness.

Per our safety protocols there is a police presence right now at all of the locations listed above that are on a Secure mode. This is being done out of an abundance of caution.

Please know that we make the safety of your child and our staff a top priority. Threats of this kind are meant to cause disruptions to the educational system. We recognize that this situation may cause angst with our families. However, please note per the Secure mode protocols, no students will be allowed to exit the building. No visitors, not even parents/guardians, will be allowed into any of these buildings.

The Safety Team investigation in partnership with local police is still underway. We will notify parents/guardians as soon as we have more information.

P-H-M utilizes the Safe School Helpline® as a confidential way to report student concerns about look-alike or real weapons, bullying or anything else that threatens the safety of our schools. It is Available 24/7/365 via the app, phone, text or online:

· Download the Safe School Helpline® app Click to get it from the App Store or Click to get it from Google Play

· Call: 1-800-418-6423 ext 359

· Text: TIPS to 614-426-0240

· Online: SafeSchoolHelpline.com

Respectfully yours,

Tommy Teeter

Director of Safety and Security