‘Lockout’ Lifted at Oswego Schools Following Suspicious Image Incident

OSWEGO – At approximately 12:21 p.m. today (Oct. 19), the Oswego City Police Department was notified by the Oswego City School District Superintendent that he had placed all seven of their school buildings on “lockout” do to a suspicious image having been observed on social media that was reported to district officials.

The suspicious image was that of, what the district believed to be, an Oswego City School District student making a suspicious and threatening statement.

The identified student was not in school today and Oswego Police worked with the district to locate the student to assess the situation.

District officials knew that the student was not on-site at any of their schools.

At no point in time did the district believe that the students were in imminent danger and the lockout was due to an abundance of caution.

The student has since been located by, and is cooperating with, police.

The lockout that was in effect for approximately one hour and has been lifted.

Classes continued as normal.

Oswego City School District Superintendent Dr. Dean Goewey said that the remainder of the school day and student dismissal will continue as scheduled.

“The Oswego City School District places the greatest importance possible on the safety of our students and today was an example of the great partnership between the school district and the Oswego City Police Department,” said Dr. Goewey. “I commend our faculty and staff for their professionalism in responding to a difficult and sensitive situation.”

Mayor Billy Barlow said, “Oswego Police Chief Tory DeCaire kept me apprised of the situation with the school district as it unfolded. I commend the Oswego City School District as well as Oswego Police Department for taking this situation seriously and resolving it so quickly and professionally.”

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