A reported threat at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown brought a police response on Thursday, but officials say the situation was quickly contained and there is no ongoing danger to the community. According to Watertown police, the matter was resolved internally at the school, and no criminal charges will be filed.
As reported by Boston 25 News, the Watertown Police Department "would like to thank Perkins School leadership and staff for their immediate cooperation, professionalism, and continued partnership." The department added, "Because this situation involves sensitive information and student privacy considerations, the Watertown Police Department will have no further comment."
Perkins, founded in 1829 and spread across a multi-acre campus along the Charles, is one of the nation’s oldest institutions serving people who are blind, visually impaired and deafblind. Perkins School for the Blind notes its long history of specialized education and community services.
How officials handled the call
Police say officers “worked quickly to assess the reported threat” and credited staff at Perkins with helping coordinate the response, according to Boston 25 News. Citing both the sensitive nature of the situation and student-privacy protections, the department declined to share further details about what prompted the call.
Campus safeguards and next steps
Perkins already runs a fairly tight ship when it comes to access. Visitors are required to check in, pass through a central switchboard, and are escorted around the campus, and those standing protocols were part of the school’s cooperation with police during the incident.
For parents, staff and neighbors looking for verified information rather than hallway rumor, official updates and contact information are available through Perkins School for the Blind and municipal public-safety channels.
