SRO Officer Responds to Threat of Violence at Houghton Middle School

Houghton Portage Township Schools SRO Officer responds to a threat of violence at the middle school. Yesterday Houghton Middle middle school principal reported that a student had made a statement of violence against three other students. SRO Office Kirk Mills was able to remove the student from the school. District Superintendent Anders Hill says that the student will be out of school pending discipline. Hill says he is thankful for the work by staff and Officer Mills to follow the district’s procedures in such an incident. The district would like to ask parents to talk with the children about the power words can carry and that comments involving violence, even as a joke, are taken seriously by the district administration. Find a full statement from the school district below.

This afternoon a middle school student made a statement to three other students about a threat of school violence. It was reported to Mrs. Filpus, the middle school principal, and the student was removed from school. Our School Resource Officer, Kirk Mills, helped from a law enforcement side and the student will be out of school pending discipline and a threat assessment involving parents, school staff, and law enforcement. I am thankful for the work of our staff and the procedures we have in place.

Please talk to your child and encourage them to share any comments involving violence with an adult. Also discuss that threats, even made as jokes, will be taken seriously and can have very severe consequences.