Geneva Police: Incident Harrison Street School Involved Juvenile Threat to Park District Employee

Geneva police officials said Tuesday that the Friday incident at Harrison Street School involved a male teenager making threatening remarks to a Geneva Park District employee.

Geneva police Cmdr. Julie Nash said the teen approached the Park District employee, who was at Harrison Street School for an after-school program, at around 5:07 p.m. April 4.

The teen made an inappropriate comment to the employee that was threatening in nature, Nash said.

"The comment was very general and not specific to anyone," she said. "Based on the information available and further investigation, the Geneva Police Department did not believe that there was an immediate threat."

The Geneva Police Department, in collaboration with the Geneva Park District and Geneva School District, followed up on the situation and addressed it appropriately through proper channels.

"The Geneva Police Department’s utmost concern is for the safety of all citizens," Nash said. "Therefore, all complaints are investigated to the fullest extent."

Some parents were concerned because neither School Principal Shonette Sims nor Police Department officials could release specific information, because the subject was a juvenile.

Nash the school requested additional police presence after the incident, which is why parents might have noticed more than the usual number of squad cars on Monday. She emphasized that Geneva police keep a close eye on and routinely visit all schools in Geneva.

"Officers are directed to make it a priority to patrol all the schools at the start and conclusion of each school day," she said.