MEDFORD — A full security sweep was conducted at the McGlynn Middle School Tuesday by Medford Police, police officers from three other communities and weapons search dogs and drug search dogs following a report that an ammunition clip to a firearm was found in the school’s theater nearly two months earlier by a custodian.
According to Medford Superintendent of Schools Roy Belson, the incident was not reported directly to the Medford police chief until recently. When told of the incident, Medford Police Chief Leo Sacco Jr. ordered an immediate, complete security sweep of the facility yesterday.
The school is closed this week for February school vacation. The school, like most schools here and around the nation, is already on high alert following the latest school mass shooting last week in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead.
There were no traces of weapons, ammunition or drugs found on the premises, according to a statement released early Tuesday evening.
“This was an isolated incident,” Belson said in a statement. “The entire school system is committed to safeguarding the students, teachers and staff at all of our schools.”
The incident happened Dec. 29, 2017, when a private cleaning company employee reportedly found a “magazine clip” (ammunition clip containing bullets) under a seat in the McGlynn School Theater, according to a statement from the superintendent. The employee turned the clip over to a school custodian on site, who then reportedly locked it in the office of McGlynn Principal Jake Edwards.
According to Belson’s statement, Edwards was in his office the next day, Dec. 30, cleaning the room and threw away several items which could have included the clip.
Belson stated the incident was reported to him and the school resource officer at the time, but not directly to Sacco.
Tuesday’s search was overseen by Medford Police Detective Michael Pellegrino and by officers from the Medford, Arlington, and Somerville police departments.
