GPD: Arrest Follows

Joint Investigation

Of 'Serious' Threats

Made Against GHS

By BILL JONES

Staff Writer

A 14-year-old Greeneville youth, who would have been a freshman at Greeneville High School beginning today, was charged Wednesday by Greeneville police with possessing prohibited weapons.

The charge, which is being handled in Juvenile Court, came at the conclusion of an investigation into the posting of threats against GHS on an Internet Web site.

"On July 21, the Greeneville Police Department received information of threats made in reference to Greeneville High School," GPD Chief Terry Cannon read from a prepared statement during a news conference this morning.

"The threats were serious and very specific.

"After an extensive investigation, the detectives of the Greeneville Police Department obtained a search warrant on July 24, 2008, of an Internet site used for social interaction.

"On Wednesday, Aug. 6, a search was conducted at a residence in Greeneville. Items recovered in the search resulted in the arrest of a 14-year-old male. The youth was charged in Juvenile Court with possession of prohibited weapons."

Neither the boy's name nor his address was disclosed by police this morning.

The boy, who Greeneville Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie said would have been a freshman at Greeneville High School beginning today, is being held at the Upper East Tennessee Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Johnson City pending a Juvenile Court hearing here, Chief Cannon said.

The boy had been a Greeneville Middle School student last year, Dr. Ailshie said.

GPD Detective Captain Terry Webb said police searched the boy's home on Wednesday morning and recovered "powders and electronics" that possibly could have been assembled into a potentially explosive device.

The evidence seized during the Wednesday search will be analyzed at a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime laboratory, Capt. Webb said.

Agencies participating in the investigation and search were: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), an investigator of the Third Judicial District Attorney General's Office, the Greeneville Police Department Bomb Squad, and the Greeneville Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, Chief Cannon said.

The Greeneville Fire Department and Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services were on standby while the search of the boy's home was being conducted, the chief said.

"The Greeneville Police Department appreciates the cooperation of all agencies involved in this investigation and would like to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude," Chief Cannon said.

"We also want to assure the citizens of our community that we take any threats of violence to our residents and/or students of our schools very seriously. And we will do all that we can to assure the safety and security of all."

Ailshie Statement

Dr. Lyle Ailshie provided the following statement regarding the arrest of the student:

"I can confirm that the Greeneville Police Department has been conducting an investigation as a result of information received regarding a possible threat involving Greeneville High School. Due to the age of the student, and the fact that the investigation is continuing, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comments until the investigation is completed.

"I want to commend Dr. Linda Stroud and our other administrators for the manner in which the information received was handled. A potential threat of any type is taken seriously, and appropriate measures are in place to ensure that such reports are handled quickly and effectively.

"I also want to assure parents that their students are safe at Greeneville High School, and all of our other schools. While no one can make any guarantees, every effort is made on a daily basis to be diligent in regards to any suspicious behavior or information.

"Over the past couple of years, we have made significant improvement in making our buildings safer than ever. I am pleased that our safety measures and processes worked effectively for the case at hand.

"I also want to commend the Greeneville Police Department, Chief Terry Cannon, Detective Beth Dyke, Detective Tim Ward, and all the other officers involved for their prompt response and investigation.

"In light of the endless demands on our police department, we realize how fortunate we are to be their first priority when it comes to the safety of students."

'SRO Needed'

Dr. Alishie also used the occasion to say he believed a school resource officer is needed at all times at Greeneville High School.

"We join the Police Department in recognizing that incidents such as this reinforce the need of having a School Resource Officer (SRO) on our high school campus at all times. It is my sincere hope that the SRO position at GHS will not become a casualty of a difficult local economy."

Chief Cannon said that, due to retirements that have left his department short-handed, Officer Joe Prokop, who has been the SRO at GHS, and Officer Brian Moore, who has handled the Greeneville School System's Drug Awareness and Resistance Education program, currently are assigned to regular patrol duties.

"It's a safety issue," Chief Cannon said, noting that he cannot leave patrol shifts short of enough personnel to cover the town.

He said he hoped the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be able to find funding to allow for the hiring of officers to replace those who have retired or been promoted.

'Excited About New Year'

"We are excited about the beginning of the new school year, and all reports this morning are that it has been a great first day," Dr. Ailshie said.

"We look forward to becoming fully engaged on Monday in what I believe will be the best year we have had. If any of our parents have any questions or concerns, they are welcome to contact my office or speak to their school principal."

Dr. Stroud, principal of GHS, said she remains focused on the school year and said she is convinced that GHS and its faculty and staff are safe.

She noted that her daughter, who is a senior at the school this year, was at GHS this morning assisting freshman students in becoming acclimated to high school.