2 Calhan High School students face misdemeanor charges for “specific threats of violence”
Two Calhan High School students have been suspended and were summoned for class one misdemeanor charges pending an investigation into threats of violence, according to a letter released by Calhan School District RJ-1 on Friday.
In the letter, the Interim Superintendent David Slothower states that around 4:30 on Thursday afternoon, district administrators were notified of two students making “specific threats of violence to be directed toward the students, faculty, and staff of Calhan Schools.”
There was no further elaboration of what the threats specifically were.
When the district was made aware of the threats, those two students were immediately suspended from school pending the investigation, and law enforcement officials from Calhan Police and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office were notified.
“Law enforcement has to take any threat seriously, whether it is said off the cuff or not. When we look at what happened in Columbine, when we look at the mass shootings that have happened all over the country to include Orlando, Florida, last year and then Vegas just a few weeks ago. We have to take those threats very very seriously and it’s better to be safe than sorry,” explained Jacqueline Kirby, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.
The names, genders, and grades of the students have not been released, but the letter says they were placed on indefinite suspension and are not allowed to be on school grounds at least until the investigation is complete.
The district also says there are safety procedures in place and classes are proceeding as normal.
“Please know that the safety of students, faculty, and staff is, and will continue to be, our highest priority,” the letter read.
The full letter reads as follows:
October 13, 2017
To the Parents and Guardians of Calhan School and community members,
On Thursday, October 12, 2017 at approximately 4:30 pm, Calhan School District administrators received a report that two Calhan High School students had made specific threats of violence to be directed toward the students, faculty, and staff of Calhan Schools. Upon receipt of the report, the two implicated students were suspended from school pending further investigation. And, in accordance with District policy, law enforcement officials from both the Calhan Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office were notified and immediate safeguards were implemented. This morning, October 13, 2017, those law enforcement officials along with District officials initiated an investigation of the reported facts. Those students were placed on indefinite suspension and prohibited from being present on school grounds pending the completion of the investigation and review for further disciplinary action, in accordance with Colorado Revised Statute 22-33-106 and District policy.
District safety procedures remain in place and classes are proceeding as usual. Please know that the safety of students, faculty, and staff is, and will continue to be, our highest priority. I am grateful to our students, the Calhan Police Department, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance and cooperation in keeping our school and its people safe. We will make ourselves available to answer any further questions you may have. Any administrator can be contacted at 719-347-2766 or via our website at www.calhanschool.org.
Sincerely,
David K. Slothower
Interim Superintendent
Calhan School District RJ-1
