UPDATE: After “potential safety situation” at West Salem HS, police say no immediate concern but will add presence near school

The West Salem School District put out a statement around 10 p.m. Wednesday from Superintendent Ryan Rieber about a “potential safety situation.”

The police department followed about two hours later, calling it a “potential threat towards” the high school and said it would increase police presence to the school district Thursday.

Around, 3:30 a.m., however, Police Lt. Kyle Holzhausen sent another update on Facebook saying:

In collaboration with the West Salem School District and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of School Safety, we have completed a thorough investigation into the safety concern at the high school.

We have concluded there is no immediate safety concern for the school district. As previously stated, safety is our top priority for all children, faculty, and parents. We will be providing additional police presence on and near the school campus.

Rieber’s post around 10 p.m. on Facebook read:

Dear West Salem High School Families,

The West Salem School District is working in conjunction with the West Salem Police Department on circumstances involving a potential safety situation. We are working together to resolve the situation, and we will have a police presence to ensure safety in the morning.

Thank you and know that we have this under control.

Holzhausen followed that around midnight on the department’s Facebook page saying they received “information about a potential threat towards the West Salem High School. We are currently investigating this situation while working closely with the school district.”

Holzhausen added, “We will take precautionary measures by providing additional police presence to the school district (Thursday). I encourage you to allow us to continue this investigation without spreading misinformation. We will provide an update once we know more.

Rieber statement was posted to the school district’s Facebook page but not on its Twitter account. It looks as though, however, a letter may have gone out to the parents of those with students in high school, according to comments.

No other information was provided, which led some commenting on the Facebook posts to say they would not allow their child to attend school.

A few comments on both posts said a student may have a hit list of sorts with teachers and students on it.

The West Salem Police Department’s Twitter account did not have the same information, as it hasn’t posted since 2019. That account is also not linked on the department’s website, while the Facebook page is.