BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Burlington Police and school officials apologized for the second time on Friday for a “communication breakdown” that led to a role-play of an armed robbery this week that traumatized students in an end-of-year high school program.
Burlington School Superintendent Tom Flanagan and Police Chief Jon Murad issued a joint statement saying officers met with impacted students to debrief the incident. They said they are working together to make sure another incident like that won’t happen again.
Officials say about 20 students were taking part in the Forensics section of the school’s Year End Studies, or YES program, and that Wednesday’s presentation included three members of the department simulating an armed robbery. They say while the gun that was used was fake, the enactment involved screaming and fake gunshot sounds that left some students feeling scared and confused.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on Thursday said she would also meet with officials.