Individual Trespassing at RMHS with a Weapon - January 24

[Anonymous]

Notice from the principal yesterday:


"Dear RMHS Community,

I am writing to share information about a concerning incident that happened on our campus today. Shortly before dismissal, our security team identified a former student in our building who was trespassing. The individual was ultimately cooperative and was escorted out of the building. During their interaction, our security team became suspicious that he might be in possession of a weapon. Security immediately notified our Community Engagement Officer who contacted Rockville City Police. Rockville City Police responded within moments and intercepted the individual in the community, searched his items, and found him in possession of a gun. The individual has been arrested.

This incident is unrelated to the January 13 Lockdown situation in the school. I want to assure you that we continue to work closely with MCPS Security and the Rockville City Police Department. Please reinforce for your student that it is never acceptable to let anyone into the building. Any student who facilitated this breach in our security will be held accountable in accordance with the MCPS Code of Conduct......."

[Anonymous]

How soon "after" dismissal is what I want to know. I saw the email yesterday.

My DC took the bus home yesterday and didn't hear/know about this until the email came out.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid at RM. Also didn't hear about this until the email out, and she stays after school for an extracurricular activity.

I would like to know how this individual got INTO the school? AGAIN?? How are these people so easily gaining access to our schools?

[Anonymous]

Also, kudos to Rockville City Police for taking care of the situation and arresting the trespassing person/student/adult??

[Anonymous]

It's kids leaning into "gun culture" and thinking it's cool and wanting to show off their weapons. This is incredibly dangerous, since we can't tell the show-offs from the murderers and showing-off can kill too. We need a total gun ban for civilians. Kids will never get it unless adults show the way.

As for school entry, athletic/back doors are left open all the time, and when they're not, kids hold the door open for others, because it's hard to block that courteous reflex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at RM. Also didn't hear about this until the email out, and she stays after school for an extracurricular activity.

I would like to know how this individual got INTO the school? AGAIN?? How are these people so easily gaining access to our schools?

The letter addresses it: A fellow student let him in.

Please reinforce for your student that it is never acceptable to let anyone into the building. Any student who facilitated this breach in our security will be held accountable in accordance with the MCPS Code of Conduct......

I appreciate that the principal is making it clear that people who enable or aid in breaking of the school's rules will be held accountable. More of this, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at RM. Also didn't hear about this until the email out, and she stays after school for an extracurricular activity.

I would like to know how this individual got INTO the school? AGAIN?? How are these people so easily gaining access to our schools?

The letter addresses it: A fellow student let him in.

Please reinforce for your student that it is never acceptable to let anyone into the building. Any student who facilitated this breach in our security will be held accountable in accordance with the MCPS Code of Conduct......

I appreciate that the principal is making it clear that people who enable or aid in breaking of the school's rules will be held accountable. More of this, please.

I read that, but didn't take it to mean that another student let the trespasser in. Just that maybe someone did? You might be right though.

But I do agree that I want to see people held accountable and hope we see more of this when kids break school rules. At all of our schools, throughout MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's kids leaning into "gun culture" and thinking it's cool and wanting to show off their weapons. This is incredibly dangerous, since we can't tell the show-offs from the murderers and showing-off can kill too. We need a total gun ban for civilians. Kids will never get it unless adults show the way.

As for school entry, athletic/back doors are left open all the time, and when they're not, kids hold the door open for others, because it's hard to block that courteous reflex.

That is ridiculous. No, sorry, I don't support that.

The real issue here is that kids know they can bring weapons and illegal substances to school (guns, knives, drugs, pills) and not face any consequences for doing so. The other issue is that we have people who have no business being at the school trespassing DURING school hours.

A gun ban on civilians does not solve either of those issues. Kids will just continue to bring illegal guns to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at RM. Also didn't hear about this until the email out, and she stays after school for an extracurricular activity.

I would like to know how this individual got INTO the school? AGAIN?? How are these people so easily gaining access to our schools?

People open doors for people. This is just basic human behavior. If your strategy depends on people not opening doors for people, your strategy will fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at RM. Also didn't hear about this until the email out, and she stays after school for an extracurricular activity.

I would like to know how this individual got INTO the school? AGAIN?? How are these people so easily gaining access to our schools?

People open doors for people. This is just basic human behavior. If your strategy depends on people not opening doors for people, your strategy will fail.

Fair enough. So, are we just resigned to the fact that anybody (adult or child) has access to our kids' schools? I guess that's the case, but our elementary school seems to do a great job of keeping people out who are not supposed to be there. One entrance and nobody can get in who isn't authorized. Also, we need to provide ID to be at the school. Is there anyway to do something similar at our high schools?

[Anonymous]

The access problems is that there are a lot of classes in the portables so unless kids hold the door open for other kids there isn’t an effective way to get from portable classrooms to your next class. If the kids have to walk all the way around to the front door they won’t make it to their next class.

But I think they will be moving to visible ID cards like WJHS does. Apparently it has worked well at WJ and would be an easy way for kids to know who is supposed to be allowed in building. More security guards at the doors would help too but that’s a more expensive fix (and also requires there to be people that are willing to do that job) so I’m not holding my breath. I also support bringing back and expanding the SRO program, and it would not surprise me if that happens, but MCPD is also wildly understaffed with massive recruitment problems so not clear they could even staff that program.
There’s no great answer for the fact that this country is awash in guns.

[Anonymous]

Another question I have is why RM always deals with RPD instead of MCPD, which has more resources and more expansive policing powers. ROD does property crimes in Rockville retail areas, but if this is related to drug sales or gang activity, it should be routed to MCPD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The access problems is that there are a lot of classes in the portables so unless kids hold the door open for other kids there isn’t an effective way to get from portable classrooms to your next class. If the kids have to walk all the way around to the front door they won’t make it to their next class.

But I think they will be moving to visible ID cards like WJHS does. Apparently it has worked well at WJ and would be an easy way for kids to know who is supposed to be allowed in building. More security guards at the doors would help too but that’s a more expensive fix (and also requires there to be people that are willing to do that job) so I’m not holding my breath. I also support bringing back and expanding the SRO program, and it would not surprise me if that happens, but MCPD is also wildly understaffed with massive recruitment problems so not clear they could even staff that program.
There’s no great answer for the fact that this country is awash in guns.

+ 1 RM parent

One reason I hate portables. So unsecure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another question I have is why RM always deals with RPD instead of MCPD, which has more resources and more expansive policing powers. ROD does property crimes in Rockville retail areas, but if this is related to drug sales or gang activity, it should be routed to MCPD.

Because Rockville is a city, and has Rockville PD.

[Anonymous]

Seems like MCPS went above and beyond to handle this issue well as usual.