craigdailypress.com

An investigation is being conducted into two Moffat County High School teens for allegedly making threats against other students.

Craig Police Chief Walt Vanatta said comments made by a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old student late Thursday afternoon led to the investigation.

He added there appears to be no risk of the alleged threats being carried out.

"They made threats to harm other students," Vanatta said. "We still have lots of other students to interview" as part of the investigation.

The two students in question have been suspended. The school has requested they remain in the presence of their parents or guardians at all times during the suspension, MCHS Principal Jane Krogman said.

On Friday, the school increased its security and also met with the two students and their parents or guardians.

As part of the investigation, the Violent Risk Assessment Team will make a recommendation to the Moffat County School District in regards to the possibility of the students' re-entry or expulsion if merited, according to a Craig Police Department press release.

If the Police Department finds evidence warranting criminal charges, they will be directed to the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office, Vanatta said.

In light of the incident, Krogman emphasized that the students and school are safe.

"We would absolutely be notifying people if there was any danger," she said. "I can't underscore that idea enough -- that we have every expectation that our students and our staff are safe, and we do everything to make sure that they are."

Vanatta, who just returned from a three-day law enforcement seminar in Steamboat Springs where one of the topics was school safety, said the Police Department and school district are ahead of the curve due to the presence of School Resource Officers on campus.

"We have such a great working relationship with the school officials," the chief said, noting a lot of school districts and police departments rarely have communication. "... We are extremely fortunate. We've had SROs in the school for eight to nine years. We have two in there now."

One area of improvement that Vanatta took from the seminar was reviewing the school response plans more frequently.

"But otherwise, not only this conference but a lot of other conferences I go to ... (I see that) we have a luxury in this community of having a great working relationship," the chief said. He added, "We all have the same goal in mind, and in the case of the schools that is providing a quality educational environment."

Jerry Raehal can be reached at 970-824-7031, ext. 204, or at jraehal@craigdailypress.com