According to Superintendent of the Islip School District Dennis O’Hara and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the person who is alleged to have made the threats against the Islip School District has been taken into custody in another state, on unrelated charges.
The Suffolk County Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are continuing to collect information and investigate the threats against the District. The threats under investigation were made by a single suspect through social media to an individual who is not related to the District. That individual notified the District of the threats.
According to Superintendent O’Hara, if the suspect’s status changes, authorities in the other state will notify the Suffolk County District Attorney, who in turn will notify the District. If this happens, O’Hara will immediately notify the community.
“As a sign of their commitment and the strong partnership we have, Suffolk County Police will still be present at our athletic contests this afternoon and at our schools when we reopen on Monday,” explained O’Hara. “I would like to thank our families for their support and patience while we worked through a disturbing situation.”
In a letter from O’Hara sent out to the Islip Schools Community and posted to the District website, the Superintendent thanked the Suffolk County Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their focus, professionalism, and efficiency.
“The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff will always be our primary focus. Working together, we can continue to provide an outstanding education in a safe environment. You can rest assured we are safe, and that I will update you if anything changes,” explained O’Hara. “Although a challenging and frightening situation, the numerous calls we have received over the last two days offering both information and support reinforced why Islip is so special. I thank you for your continued support and cooperation.”
