RI State Police Responded to 39 Bomb Threats Since 2011
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Rhode Island State Police have responded to 39 bomb incidents or threats since 2011, GoLocal has learned from the Department of Public Safety.
In records obtained from the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety through the Access to Public Records Act, GoLocal has learned that state authorities responded to 21 threats in 2011, 13 threats in 2012, and 5 so far in 2013.
According to the response letter GoLocal received from the Department dated May 25th, the data does not include hoax devices, suspicious packages, or incidents handled at the local level for which the State Marshall's Office and RI State Police received an "informational report subsequent to the incident."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We've seen an increase recently in the number of threats reported" said Chief Deputy Richard James with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. "The first few weeks following the Boston bombings, we definitely saw a heightened awareness in the community to suspicious packages, behaviors."
James continued, "Everyone was naturally on edge for a while and that's gone down some, but we still continue to address the issue of bomb threats, as we've always done."
With arrests made earlier in the month in conjunction with bomb threats made at Woonsocket High School, as well as the evacuation of Portsmouth High School following a bomb scare as just two local examples, GoLocal spoke further with Chief Deputy James, as well as Woonsocket Superintendent Giovanna Donayan, regarding bomb threats in the state and city, and how authorities continue to address the complex nature of responding to them.
Deputy Chief on the Record
"First and foremost, it's our responsibility to look out for the public's safety," said James, regarding the office's response to bomb threats.
"However, it's the time of year -- with schools getting out and summer approaching -- that we'll often see more threats being called in," said James. "We were involved with the Woonsocket incident, where they did a really good job of responding."
James noted that he was aware of arrests made in conjunction to the recent bomb threats that resulted in multiple evacuations in Woonsocket.
"I can't really talk about that case, but what I can tell you is that we've got a number of avenues to prosecute if it turns out the bomb threat was a hoax," said James, noting that the time and resources needed necessary to respond was costly.
"We have a joint [Massachusetts]-RI arson reward program that offers the ability for people to call us and give an anonymous tip regarding suspects, including someone who may have made a bomb threat," said James. "And there are rewards for this information should it result in an arrest. I've seen [rewards] as high as $3,000, especially if police or firefighters were harmed in any way."
"We've apprehended several people recently in seperate incidents based on handwriting analysis, we can look into phone records, we can "trap" lines" when people call in threats," said James. "As far as the schools are concerned, we've been working with officials to help educate them further on how to respond to incidents and report them."
Superintendent Donoyan on Woonsocket Schools
"The most important thing is safety -- students, teachers, the community," said Woonsocket Superintendent of Schools Giovanna Donoyan. "We have to take all threats, and I mean everything, seriously."
"However with kids being kids, there can often be a disconnect between what they think is a joke and reality," continued Donoyan. "And it's our job to let them know we're serious on this."
"I think it's an abomination for anyone to interrupt students like that," said Donoyan, referring to the displacement that occurs when an evacuation happens. "We have strict rules regarding bomb threats being made, which includes suspension."
"Of course, it the student is tried and convicted, that takes care of that -- but usually just for the time being," added Donoyan. "I need to worry about those kids coming back to school -- will there be bullying, or an increase of fights?
Regarding the recent incident that took place in Woonsocket, Donoyan said it actually served to bring the community closer together. "As ugly as it was, people were frightened, but also appreciative of each other -- there was a sense of re-respect present, of each other."
"What we want to make clear to the students is that we're not playing a game here," concluded Donoyan. "I came to public service and a role in education mid-career fourteen years ago to make a difference, and I'm proud to say at the end of the day following the bomb threats, we all worked together for the safety of our kids. That's the most important thing."
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