November 2, 2006

UPDATE:  THREATENING LETTERS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

MERCER COUNTY, NJ -- In response to a letter received by the East Windsor Township Police Department containing a non-specific threat toward an “elementary school,” the East Windsor Township Police Department and the Hightstown Borough Police Department, with the full cooperation of the East Windsor Regional School District, increased police presence in each of the schools located within the East Windsor Regional School District.  This increased presence involves at least one uniformed police officer in each school and increased roving patrols around all district schools.

            The letter that prompted this response indicated that the writer felt that he was being “harassed” and “racially profiled” by a member of the East Windsor Township Police Department.  The letter referenced a “walk through an elementary school” and then referred to the recent school shooting at the Amish school in Pennsylvania.

            The police department began an immediate investigation of this threat and the origin of the letter.  East Windsor Regional School District officials were notified about the nature of this threat and the Hightstown Police Department was also advised of the contents of this letter.

            During the course of the investigation of this incident, the East Windsor police determined that similar letters were received by the Middletown Township Municipal Court and the Milford Board of Education.  These letters contained similar threats against elementary schools in Middletown and Milford townships.

            At the request of East Windsor Police Chief William Spain, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. organized a coordination meeting with representatives from the East Windsor Police Department, the Hightstown Borough Police Department, the Middletown Township Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.  This meeting took place on November 2, 2006, at East Windsor Township Police Headquarters.  This meeting permitted all involved law enforcement agencies to share information and to coordinate investigative activities.

            Additionally, the East Windsor Police Department will continue to work closely with East Windsor Regional School officials to take all reasonable steps to enhance the security within the schools located in the East Windsor Regional School District, including an increased police presence in and around all of the schools within the District.

Involved Law Enforcement Agencies:

            East Windsor Township Police Department

            Hightstown Borough Police Department

            Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office

            Middletown Township Police Department

            Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

            New Jersey State Police

            Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office