Police tell Niles schools to lock doors, review lockdown procedure

Published 2:15 pm Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Three schools in the Niles Community Schools district were told today to “lock additional doors” and “review their lockdown procedures” by district police liaison Kevin Kosten, of the Niles Police Department.

Supt. Richard Weigel said Niles High School, Ring Lardner Middle School and Eastside Connections School were the schools involved. All three schools are located within a few blocks of each other on the city’s northeast side.

Weigel said police would not tell him why the schools were asked to do so, but said he was told, “There is no known issue at this point in time regarding any of our schools. It is an issue in the community.”

Weigel said the affected buildings were not on lockdown.

“During the whole time, students were coming and going,” he said.

Additional doors are considered doors left open during the day for access by visitors, students and staff.

Kosten asked the schools to do this around 10 a.m. It lasted a short time, according to Weigel.

Niles Police Chief Jim Millin was not available for immediate comment.