photo courtesy of Westwood Regional High School
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, the graduation ceremony at Westwood Regional High School took a troubling turn on Thursday evening as a brawl broke out on the football field, resulting in multiple injuries and one person being hospitalized, according to the Township of Washington Police Department.
Incident Overview
The incident occurred shortly after the 6 p.m. graduation ceremony concluded. Multiple fights erupted on the field, prompting quick intervention to separate the involved parties and disperse the crowds. Emergency responders treated several individuals for injuries at the scene, and one person required hospitalization.
Principal’s Statement
Westwood Regional High School Principal Frank Connelly addressed the situation on social media and the school’s website, stating, “Congratulations to the Class of 2024! I am so proud of each and every one of you. It is an honor to serve as your principal and to be part of this amazing community. I refuse to allow anything to take away from that.”
Police Investigation
The Washington Township Police Department is actively investigating the incident. They have collected multiple videos from social media and are using these, along with witness statements, to identify those involved. Anyone with additional information or video footage is encouraged to contact Detective Sgt. Fasciano at SFasciano@washtwppolice.org. Criminal charges are pending.
Official Statements
“This was supposed to be an enjoyable night that the Westwood High School Senior class worked hard for and have been waiting for, which has been tainted due to the egregious behavior by some,” the Township of Washington Police Department said. They urged the community to discuss appropriate behavior with their children, family members, and friends.
The department added, “If something is occurring in front of you that you know is an issue, please call the police. If an issue arises to an emergent or dangerous situation, leave immediately and follow police officers’ instructions on scene. Speaking with family and friends about these situations will pay off in the future.”
Community Response
The chaotic scene required the assistance of multiple local agencies to manage the crowds, including police departments from Hillsdale, Westwood, Old Tappan, Oradell, Emerson, River Vale, Waldwick, Ho Ho Kus, Ridgewood, and Paramus, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff. Volunteer ambulance corps from Washington Township, Westwood, and River Vale also responded and provided medical aid to those injured.
Moving Forward
The incident has cast a shadow over what should have been a celebratory evening for the Westwood High School Class of 2024. As the investigation continues, the community is urged to reflect on the importance of appropriate behavior and the consequences of such actions.
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Three cheers for diversity *watch the videos before you comment*
“They urged the community to discuss appropriate behavior with their children, family members, and friends.”
Here we go. We don’t take positive action, we discuss. We hold rallies and marches. But we don’t take positive action. And all the participants feel really good about themselves.
Then we wonder why nothing changes.
Correct. Never directly address the problem.
Instead, punish the entire community.
Cowards.
Westwood BOE is a joke! In TBE Community Life paper it states bullying is down! Guess again?
That school sucks, they called that was high school, that’s their nickname.
People fighting were graduating seniors or others?
Ten police departments!