Inola school threat investigation continues

Tuesday, April 19th 2005, 11:03 am

By: News On 6

The latest on some Oklahoma 5th graders accused of plotting an attack on their school. Rogers County school leaders and investigators are investigating the plan that sources say, involved a group of boys trying to get a gun to bring to school.

News on 6 anchor Tami Marler went to Inola to find out more. Inola School superintendent Jake Crutchfield has been busy, trying to keep everyone else calm. "Today is just a regular school day. We have a little added security. We're counseling the kids, meeting with whatever parents we need to meet with, just trying to reassure everybody that life's gonna go on."

Parents tell the News on 6, a group of boys had made sketches of their school, and asked another boy to help them get a gun. When he wouldn't help, sources say the others beat him up.

Because of a court gag order, Crutchfield couldn't confirm specifics, but his message is clear. "Be careful what you say. Be careful what you say. It doesn't matter if you mean it. And if you hear something that somebody may be doing or saying, report it to a parent, teacher or principal." School officials and law enforcement have gotten a lot of phone calls from parents irate that they had to learn about this incident on the news. But what they're learning is that there is a delicate balance between a juvenile's rights, and the public's right to know.

"We understand their concerns. We want them to understand that we're trying to be proactive." Inola Police Chief Les Wilmott says his hands are tied when it comes to what he can tell the public. "We're bound by statute. Juvenile records aren't public record. We can't just go say that little Johnny's doing this."

What they can do, is educate with training-tapes on dealing with the threat of school violence. Chief Wilmott teaches a mandatory course to all Inola teachers before school starts each year. The students in this case are suspended until a judge decides their fate. Inola officials don't know if they averted a tragedy, they only know they were ready.

Chief Wilmott says the day Inola Police were called into this investigation, he received a letter from the US Justice Department, inviting Inola to apply for a program called "Secure our Schools." If they're accepted, they could get tens of thousands of dollars in federal funding, to pay for added-security in schools.