WESTFIELD – Westfield State University issued a campus-wide alert at 5:24 p.m. Thursday evening after receiving a phoned-in bomb threat.
The alert was sent via the RAVE Alert Emergency Notification System, which provides information using landline phones, cell phones, voicemail, email, text messaging and the university’s website.
The alert found online read: “The Woodward Center is closed until further notice due to an ongoing police investigation. An alert will be sent when the building is reopened.”
The Woodward Athletic/Academic Center, located at 395 Western Avenue, is an 80,000 square foot facility that features a 35,000 square foot field house along with a lounge, classrooms and laboratories.
Public Affairs Spokeswoman Molly C. Watson released the following statement regarding the incident:
“This is to inform you that late this afternoon, the Woodward Center received a bomb threat via a telephone call. Swift action was taken to clear the building. After a thorough search by Campus Public Safety and in consultation with the Massachusetts State Police and City of Westfield Police and Fire departments, no evidence was found to suggest this threat was credible. The building was re-opened at 6:15 p.m. Campus Safety is now working with appropriate authorities to try to identify the caller.”
A dispatch operator stated that neither the Westfield Police Department nor the Westfield Fire Department were onsite during the search of the building.
Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Tom Ryan, said that WSU Public Safety requested the assistance of bomb-sniffing dog. None were available, so state police did not go on site.
After being questioned about what agencies were onsite, Watson emailed the following response: “Campus Public Safety was onsite and assessed the threat. Westfield Police and Fire and the Massachusetts State Police were all notified per protocol, but their onsite assistance was not required.”
Watson’s statement also included the following:
“Bomb threats are delivered in a variety of ways with most threats called into the target facility. Occasionally, calls are made through a third party. Sometimes a threat is communicated in writing, by a recording, or by social media. Each threat is unique and will be treated as genuine to ensure the safety of our campus community and neighbors. The University will never ignore a bomb threat. The university’s Bomb Threat policy is regularly reviewed and can be found on our website at www.westfield.ma.edu.”
According to the website, “the Director of Public Safety has the authority to request outside assistance for any bomb threat whenever the Director or his/her designee deems the assistance necessary. The Director will advise the President, and other key administrators as deemed appropriate, of bomb threat incidents.”
One student, who preferred not to be named, said he received the RAVE alert on his phone while he was at practice in Woodward. He said he heard rumors there was a bomb threat, but doubted that would be the case.
A RAVE alert was issued at 5:55 p.m., stating: “Campus police have concluded their investigation at Woodward. The Woodward Center will reopen at 6:15 pm. We thank everyone for their cooperation.”
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
