LUHS lockdown was a false alarm

Law enforcement personnel from several different agencies, including the Minocqua police department, Woodruff police department, Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police, the Oneida and Vilas County sheriff’s offices and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, responded to a report of a lockdown at Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) Friday morning.

“It was reported that the lockdown was initiated due to an armed intruder,” Minocqua police chief Dave Jaeger said in a press release. “The Minocqua Police Department and surrounding law enforcement agencies take these types of incidents very seriously and responded in an overwhelming and timely manner.”

Jaeger said the first law enforcement officers arrived on scene at approximately 8:19 a.m. “and started active shooter protocol.”  “While conducting the investigation, law enforcement, along with school administration, determined the lockdown was accidentally activated from an outside source due to a flaw that was immediately corrected in the school’s new lockdown system,” he stated in the press release. “Law enforcement continued active shooter protocol and determined there was never an active threat to LUHS students, faculty or staff. Once this was determined, LUHS families were notified via the school notification system and shortly after LUHS resumed normal school activities.”

Jaeger credited LUHS faculty and staff and personnel with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Lac Du Flambeau Department of Natural Resources for providing assistance.

“Again, the Minocqua Police Department, surrounding law enforcement agencies and first responders take these types of incidents very seriously and will continue to train to ensure our schools are safe,” he said. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].