Students at West Hartford’s Hall High School spent several hours on Tuesday in a ‘Secure the Classroom’ protocol while police conducted an investigation into a report.

By Ronni Newton

Students at Hall High School remained in their classrooms for several hours on Tuesday as West Hartford Police conducted a thorough investigation into reported information.

An email from Hall Principal Sarah Isaacs was sent to the Hall community just after 10 a.m., advising parents and caregivers that the “Secure the Classroom” protocol had been activated while police were investigating. “Secure the Classroom” is different from a lockdown, and is intended to keep the hallways clear of students and staff. While the protocol is in place, anyone who needed to leave a classroom – including to use the restroom – received an escort by a member of the police department as part of standard procedure.

“We kindly ask parents and caregivers not to come to the school at this time so that we can allow police and school staff to work efficiently and without interruption,” Isaacs’ email stated.

West Hartford Police Capt. Aaron Vafiades said information reported came from a student who overheard something that they believed involved a weapon, and prompted a thorough search by police which did not turn up any weapons.

Assistant Chief Rob Riccobon confirmed to We-Ha.com just after noon on Tuesday that although the Secure the School protocol had not yet been lifted at that time, everyone inside Hall was safe and there was not a threat. “There’s a lot of police presence, but no danger,” Riccobon said.

West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus confirmed that securing the classrooms is a protocol used in situations where the hallways need to be kept clear for the purpose of an investigation. It’s also a protocol used, for example, when there is a medical incident in the school.

Just after 12:30 p.m. the “Secure the Classroom” protocol was lifted, allowing students and staff to move freely through the building, and lunch to be served. Vicinus said dismissal would take place at the normal time.

After school activities at West Hartford Public Schools were canceled Tuesday – but that was due to the weather and unrelated to the police investigation at Hall.

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