OFFICE OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Mr. Stacy J. Holmes
Southern Westchester BOCES
17 Berkley Drive
Rye Brook, New York 10573

Dear Superintendent Holmes:

   Schools in Westchester have received threats of violence in recent weeks. These unlawful acts threaten the safety of our children and disrupt the education process. Rest assured that we are working closely with local police to ensure that offenders are identified and held accountable.

   The manner in which the recipient of a threat initially handles that threat is crucial to the ensuing investigation and the identification of the perpetrator. Therefore, enclosed is a brief guide which will help you handle incoming threats to the school, whether it be telephonic or computer generated.

   The Westchester County District Attorney's Office will work with you and vour school district to assist in these potentially volatile situations. In addition, we will provide information about pending investigations, upon your request.

   Assistant District Attorney Bruce Kelly (914-995-4462) is the point of contact for this Office with all school officials. At my direction, ADA Kelly has reached out to the individual school districts that have received threats and recently met with many of the school administrators. On the prevention front, our PRO-LAW program offers students interactive workshops on a variety of criminal law issues, including but not limited to school violence (weapons possession, assaults, youth gangs and peer violence). Later this month, we will also be providing county schools with a student newsletter, which addresses threats against schools and other relevant topics.

   Please feel free to disseminate this information, as you deem appropriate. We will continue in our job to help protect the community and send a message that these acts will not be tolerated. If this Office can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very truly yours,

Jeanine Pirro
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Site Last Updated: October 30, 2001.
© Copyright Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC).