SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) – Shawano Police and Sheriff’s Department were notified of a shooting threat that was written on a picnic table at Memorial Park in Shawano.
Police were notified around 5:30 Monday evening.
Shawano Superintendent Gary Cumberland was contacted by law enforcement, and contacted parents in the district.
Police say a group of citizens were moving picnic tables at Memorial Park and noticed the words “I’m going to shoot up the school” written in marker.
Cumberland said they are unsure of the creditability, but acted in a swift matter.
“We are unsure of when the note was written, and the note provided no specific date of the event or reference to a specific school. We take all threats seriously to ensure the safety of the students in our school.”
Cumberland added he wanted to alert parents right away Monday night.
“We decided to put something out on facebook and contact parents before the information got out in different fashions.”
Shawano School District is working with Shawano Law Enforcement.
Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber said they will continue to investigate and act as if the threat was creditable.
“I am pretty confident that a teacher or someone in the school will be able to recognize the handwriting, but we are going to help out as much as we can.”
Bieber called the handwriting “unique”.
The police department and Sheriff’s department will provide extra patrol and enforcement at the schools on Tuesday.
“We had coverstations and decided this would be the best method based on the fact that we were unsure of creditability and when the threat was written” Cumberland said.
Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber is urging parents to check on their kids to see if they have anything in their rooms or backpack that seem suspicious and if weapons are in the house, make sure they are located and secure.
This is the not first shooting threat response in the area this school year.
Last week a facsimile firearm was found in a Seymour school classroom, and Kiel High School had a shooting threat rumor and a possible gunfire before school Friday.
