Berkley Elementary Evacuated After Alleged Bomb Threat

Berkley Street Elementary School students were evacuated from the building on Wednesday afternoon after officials were notified of an alleged bomb threat in the school.

The students, faculty and staff were all evacuated to the Hovnanian School shortly after 1pm after a teacher was advised by several students that one of their peers had stated there was a bomb in the school that would detonate at 2pm.

"The building was searched by a Bergen County Police K-9 Unit and Bergen County Police Bomb Technician," Police Chief Frank Papapietro stated in press release. "There was no device found and the students were returned and dismissed from Berkley School. The New Milford Police Dept. is actively investigating the threat."

Berkley Elementary School is a K-5 school with approximately 450 students and 50 faculty and staff members.

"The threat was deemed to be a non-critical threat," Superintendent Michael Polizzi said. "The evacuation was extremely orderly and all students and faculty returned to Berkley at 2:45pm for their routine dismissal."

The New Milford Fire Department also responded to the alleged threat as per the school's response procedures.

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