A threat phoned in to a hotline prompted a brief shelter-in-place at John F. Kennedy High School in Fremont today, as police swept the campus and surrounding area, then cleared the scene and allowed the school to return to normal operations.
What happened at Kennedy High
According to SFGate, which republished a Bay City News Service report, Fremont police said they received a call around 1 p.m. about a possible threat to the Kennedy High campus. School resource officers and patrol units responded, working with school staff to move students and teachers indoors while officers checked the grounds and nearby area for anything suspicious.
During the precautionary shelter-in-place, police focused on securing the campus and investigating the reported threat while classes continued inside.
Officers cleared campus; no threat found
The Fremont Police Department said on Facebook that the shelter-in-place was lifted at 1:15 p.m. after officers found no threats. The department added that the investigation into the call remains open and that Kennedy High resumed normal operations once the campus was cleared, according to a post from the Fremont Police Department.
District guidance and context
Fremont Unified School District’s safety guidance notes that a shelter-in-place is a precautionary measure used when there is police activity in the area. Students are kept inside, accounted for, and supervised while officers handle the situation, as opposed to a full lockdown that is reserved for an immediate on-campus threat. Families are asked not to call the school during these incidents and instead to monitor official district communications for updates, according to the Fremont Unified School District.
How to report tips
Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Fremont Police Department’s Investigative Unit or submit an anonymous tip online. Contact numbers and tip options are listed on the department’s website, per the Fremont Police Department.
