A Lehman Educational Campus student was nabbed ‘blue handed’ after allegedly pulling a fire alarm last week.
According to a NYPD spokesman, a 14-year old male Lehman Educational Campus student was arrested by police after pulling the fire alarm at the first floor exit resulting in the evacuation of the entire school.
Police from the 45th Precinct and fire fighters were dispatched to the scene at around 2 p.m. where they discovered the suspect with blue colored fire alarm tamper dye staining his hand.
The teenager was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and filing a false report of a fire following the incident.
This most recent stunt occurred on the last day of school before mid-winter recess and is part of a growing trend of false fire alarms happening at the educational institution.
As previously reported by the Bronx Times, Lehman Educational Campus experienced a nearly week-long spree of fights and false fire alarms from Monday, November 30 to Thursday, December 3 which witnessed thousands of students fleeing into the streets, most of whom never returned to school.
It is widely believed the street brawls which occurred in Westchester Square during the original string of false fire alarm incidents were alledgedly arranged by students who sent text messages to each other during class time, according to Councilman James Vacca.
Returning students were subjected to hour long waits at metal detectors to re-enter Lehman High School resulting in the lost of valuable class time.
According to the Westchester Business Improvement District, local merchants were forced to close their doors and turn away customers and Owen Dolen Park was under lockdown until police arrived during these original incidents.
Since then, there have not been any more fights occurring at Westchester Square, said a spokesperson foe the WSBID.
A DOE spokesman said in regards to last week’s incident at Lehman Educational Campus, each DOE school has individualized procedures in place to respond to emergencies and ensure student safety.
Additionally, the Lehman campus principals have been working closely with the FDNY, NYPD and the DOE’s office of Safety and Youth Development to address and prevent alarm incidents and ensure safety on and around the campus.
The DOE spokesman further stated the FDNY, NYPD and DOE are continuing to provide additional support to Lehman High School during this time.
New methods have been established by Vacca, the New York City Schools Chancellor’s Office and local merchants to help rectify the situation.
The councilman elaborated by saying DOE has assured him new measures are being put in place to address concerns at Lehman Educational Campus which include installing fire alarm tamper dye, a new cell phone policy for students to surrender their mobile devices upon entering school and retrieving them at the end of the day and re-evaluating the school’s fire drill protocol by having half of the campus file into the football field to have them re-enter the school in a much more time-efficient manner.
Vacca added the school’s remaining students would continue lining up outside of the school, but not past the White Castle.
Though pleased with some of the measures taken by DOE, the councilman believes DOE should consider appointing one of the school campus’ six principals as a lead principal in light of recent events.
Despite suggesting this to DOE, Vacca said the department does not presently intend to enact this concept.
“Last week’s arrest is significant because it sends a message that the games are over and this type of behavior will not be tolerated,” said Vacca.
