Raymond schools placed under ‘soft lock down’ after tip from Edmonton police

Westwind Weekly file photo Raymond Elementary School

Jeremy Appel
Westwind Weekly News

Schools in Raymond were placed under a “soft lock down” after Edmonton Police Service informed Westwind School Division on April 13 of a potential threat made on social media by a former student.
The Raymond RCMP told the schools “to hold and secure until dismissal, as a precautionary measure, while they conducted an investigation in the area,” according to a Westwind School Division news release.
In practice, this meant bringing all the students and staff who were outside into the school, while locking all windows and doors so nobody could enter or exit.
“Students and staff were safe at all times,” the release said. “Our schools remained secured until dismissal time, when we were assured by police that it was safe to dismiss students.”
Administrators in nearby Stirling and Magrath were also notified as an additional precaution.
Since the incident is currently under police investigation, the school board declined to disclose further details, such as the nature of the threat.
Raymond RCMP Sgt. Kelly McCoy was similarly short on specifics, but disclosed that a member of the public brought the threat to the attention of the Edmonton police.
“It was a post that was put online that an individual in Edmonton received and took it to the Edmonton Police Service,” he said.
“It’s based on social media, so those things can go as far and broad, it just depends on who gets it and who looks at it as a concern versus not a concern.
“Police agencies talk to each other and they passed it on to us.”

Get More Westwind Weekly →