October 8, 2015
Dear Ridgewood Public Schools community,
At approximately 1 p.m. this afternoon, I was informed by Travell School Principal Margaret Leininger that a student had witnessed a male with a gun outside the school building. The Ridgewood Police were immediately notified and on the scene within minutes as the school went into lockdown.
As a preventive measure, due to the proximity of Benjamin Franklin Middle School to Travell, BFMS was also put on lockdown.
The police responded to Travell School and took control, performing a thorough search of the building, grounds and neighborhood. They also viewed the school’s surveillance video and interviewed the student witness. From the surveillance video, the police determined that the person described by the student was a parent picking up his child. The parent was holding a cell phone.
It is important to emphasize that no Travell student or staff member was in danger at any time during this incident.
I am pleased with the response of the principal and staff, and also with the quick and effective response from our administrative team and especially the police. I am also grateful that our students know to come forward when they feel there is a potential problem.
Please be assured that I will always take every appropriate action to protect the safety and well being of our students and staff.
Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
John Ward
Chief, Ridgewood Police Department
better safe than sorry… good job by everyone involved
Hmmmm. Not exactly the way it happened, but we’ll give Dr. Fishbein a pass this time.
is it just me or have i heard this cell phone gun story before ???
Lockdown is a prison term, I find it quite interesting how schools are adapting to becoming more of an institution then a place to learn. What a great time to be a kid.
11:47. You know more than the Superintendent?
Sorry but I have never seen a cell phone that resembled a gun. Really?
NYPD saw a cell phone that resembled a gun, or at least they say they did.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Amadou_Diallo
Not saying that I know more than Dr. Fishbein, but I do know for a fact that his statement was very carefully worded in order to avoid revealing a key piece of information about the incident.
3:15 not the same as “not exactly what happened”.
He does not need to list the blow-by-blow of what happened.
3:55 PM: Suggest you fill out a copy of the form available via this link, requesting an audio copy of the phone calls from Travell, and an audio copy of the radio communications from police officers associated with the event, from beginning to end. Then you will know what really went down. They may charge you a few cents for the CD, but it will be worth every penny.
https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/police/20111019rpdrfpr.pdf
…teaching our children to live in fear.