Western receives threat
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
MACOMB, IL -- The Office of Public Safety (OPS) at Western Illinois University and Macomb Police are investigating a threat regarding a shooting on campus that was received at an off-campus apartment complex sometime overnight.
According to the Office of Public Safety Director Bob Fitzgerald, an employee of an apartment complex near campus reported receiving a handwritten note in the complex's payment drop-box that indicated there would be a shooting on the WIU campus today.
Residence halls are locked and accessible only by residents with keys. Students who wish to remain in their residence halls and apartments will not be penalized for missing classes today (March 26). Faculty and staff who wish to be absent should contact their supervisors.
"While this is an anonymous off-campus threat, it is imperative that we take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our students, staff and faculty," noted WIU President Al Goldfarb.
Police patrol, including assistance from the Illinois State Police, Macomb Police Department and the McDonough County Sheriff's Office, has been increased and is highly present on the WIU-Macomb campus, Fitzgerald said. Any unusual or suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Office of Public Safety by calling 9-1-1 from any campus phone or 298-1949. There are also 51 emergency callboxes located throughout campus.
Goldfarb added the University is working with Macomb Police in an effort to find the person or persons responsible for the threat.
"We are investigating this incident, and we will prosecute the individual responsible to the fullest extent of the law," Goldfarb said.
A timely warning alert has been issued using Western's Emergency Alert System
According to the Office of Public Safety Director Bob Fitzgerald, an employee of an apartment complex near campus reported receiving a handwritten note in the complex's payment drop-box that indicated there would be a shooting on the WIU campus today.
Residence halls are locked and accessible only by residents with keys. Students who wish to remain in their residence halls and apartments will not be penalized for missing classes today (March 26). Faculty and staff who wish to be absent should contact their supervisors.
"While this is an anonymous off-campus threat, it is imperative that we take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our students, staff and faculty," noted WIU President Al Goldfarb.
Police patrol, including assistance from the Illinois State Police, Macomb Police Department and the McDonough County Sheriff's Office, has been increased and is highly present on the WIU-Macomb campus, Fitzgerald said. Any unusual or suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Office of Public Safety by calling 9-1-1 from any campus phone or 298-1949. There are also 51 emergency callboxes located throughout campus.
Goldfarb added the University is working with Macomb Police in an effort to find the person or persons responsible for the threat.
"We are investigating this incident, and we will prosecute the individual responsible to the fullest extent of the law," Goldfarb said.
A timely warning alert has been issued using Western's Emergency Alert System
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 34
Zach
posted 3/26/08 @ 10:07 AM CST
This is absolutely sickening.
Kudos to the emergency alert system.
Kristen
posted 3/26/08 @ 10:23 AM CST
Some moron just wants attention.
Catherine
posted 3/26/08 @ 10:36 AM CST
I am rather confused as to why the campus hasn't been closed. I understand that they've locked residence halls; if a shooting occured in an academic building, though, that would actually present more of a problem because it eliminates an escape for some people. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 3/26/08 @ 10:43 AM CST
What the hell is wrong with people?! If this is a joke, what purpose does it serve and if for some reason it was a real threat, WTF. I just can not comprehend this sort of thing. (Continued…)
Jaime
posted 3/26/08 @ 10:44 AM CST
Zach says this is sickening and kudos to the emergency alert system and I for one agree with him on both points.
Hats off to the Emergency Alert System WIU completed work on earlier this year. (Continued…)
Vick
posted 3/26/08 @ 11:01 AM CST
This is disturbing news. I would be curious as to when the police were notified of this threat. My daughter checked her email before going to class at 10:00 and no emergency notifications were listed, or texted. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 3/26/08 @ 11:22 AM CST
Props to WIU for alerting and taking measures with IL State PD and McDonough County Sheriff as well as OPS and Macomb PD. On that campus, their presence will be felt. (Continued…)
Hannah
posted 3/26/08 @ 11:26 AM CST
People don't work in the apartment complex offices overnight, so they probably did not recieve the threat until this morning. Even still, I say kudos to the Emergency alert system, but I wish they had closed campus. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 3/26/08 @ 12:30 PM CST
While I did receive a text message and phone call, it was over half an hour after other people had received theirs. While I appreciate WIU putting the system into place, there is clearly a problem when time sensitive information takes over half an hour to be delivered. (Continued…)
burnside
posted 3/26/08 @ 12:36 PM CST
Let's check for security cameras around the drop box area and post the pics
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