STARK COUNTY, Ohio — A student at Perry High School was taken into custody Wednesday morning after police said they were found to be in possession of a gun on school premises.
Perry police said a school resource officer confiscated the gun while conducting routine duties.
"I want to reassure the community that in this incident, there were no threats to students or staff," Perry Township Police Chief Bryan Taylor said in a statement. "However, it underscores the importance of remaining vigilant and proactive in our efforts to maintain safe learning environments."
Chief Taylor added that "appropriate disciplinary and legal action will be pursued according to school policies and applicable laws."
Here's more from Chief Taylor's statement:
Let me unequivocal: Firearms have no place in our schools. The safety and well-being of staff and students are paramount, and any threat to this security will be met with swift and decisive actions.
Furthermore, I urge parents and guardians to have open and honest conversations with their children about the serious consequences of bringing weapons to school. We must collectively emphasize the importance of reporting any suspicious behavior to authorities immediately.
Together, we can create safer school environments where our children can learn and thrive without fear. Let us stand united to ensure the safety of our community’s most precious assets.
STATEMENT FROM PERRY SCHOOLS
The following letter was shared from the school district:
Dear Perry Families:
Perry Local School District is dedicated to making the safety and well-being of our students and staff our top priority. Any situation that could potentially threaten or harm our students and staff is addressed with our fullest attention and dealt with accordingly.
Today, a student at Perry High School was taken into custody by the Perry Township Police Department after a search revealed the student was in possession of a firearm.
Our school resource officer and building administrator acted quickly upon discovering evidence of a potential firearm by a student. Their swift action ensured that no students or staff were harmed. Based upon the investigation, there was no verbal or written threats directed at students or staff. The school day will continue as scheduled.
We are grateful for our partnership with the Perry Township Police Department and for their commitment to supporting the safety and security of Perry Local Schools.
The district has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the possession of any weapon on school grounds. Perry Local Schools takes any and all situations involving student safety very seriously, and appropriate disciplinary action will be pursued in alignment with Board of Education policy and the student code of conduct.
Again, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priorities. We will continue to take every report of suspicious behavior seriously and appreciate the school community’s partnership in providing a safe educational environment for our students and staff.
Nathan Stuz
Superintendent
Perry Local School District
