Glen Rock Officials Respond After School Swatting Hoax

No threat found, safety review launched after lockdown incident at high school

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:51pm

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Glen Rock, NJ officials confirmed that last Friday's 'swatting' incident at the high school was a hoax, with no credible threat to the school community. The lockdown was lifted and students were safely dismissed, though the incident drew a massive emergency response. Borough and school leadership praised the professionalism of first responders and said a full review is underway to identify lessons learned and strengthen procedures.

Why it matters

Swatting incidents, where false emergency calls are made to provoke a large police response, have become an increasing problem for schools and communities. This case highlights the need for robust emergency protocols and coordination between officials to ensure student safety, while also raising questions about how to prevent and respond to these dangerous hoaxes.

The details

According to the joint statement, the lockdown was triggered by a 'swatting' hoax - a false report of an emergency to provoke a large police response, in this case potentially a 'SWAT team'. Authorities confirmed there was no credible threat, and the lockdown was lifted with students safely dismissed. The incident drew a massive response from Glen Rock's emergency services as well as surrounding towns providing mutual aid.

  • The incident occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • On Monday, March 16, 2026, Glen Rock officials released a joint statement about the incident.

The players

Kristine Morieko

The mayor of Glen Rock, New Jersey.

Dr. Damali Robinson

The president of the Glen Rock Board of Education.

Glen Rock High School

The high school where the swatting incident took place, located in the same building as the middle school.

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What they’re saying

“Many of us had children in the building during the lockdown and experienced the uncertainty of the situation as both parents and as public servants. We are deeply grateful for the professionalism and dedication shown by our police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, school administrators, teachers, and staff, who acted quickly and calmly throughout the incident.”

— Kristine Morieko and Dr. Damali Robinson, Mayor and Board of Education President

What’s next

Officials promised a full review of the response to 'recognize what worked well, identify lessons learned,' and see how they can strengthen procedures moving forward.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of swatting incidents targeting schools, and the need for robust emergency protocols and coordination between officials to ensure student safety while also preventing and responding to these dangerous hoaxes.