NEWPORT — North Country Union High School paid tribute to local law enforcement officers Thursday night during their home football game, recognizing the swift response that kept students and staff safe during a bomb threat on the first day of school.
The ceremony honored officers who responded to the Aug. 28 incident when 25-year-old Cypher Aiken of Newport allegedly sent a text message claiming he had planted bombs at the high school. The threat prompted an immediate evacuation of NCUHS and lockdowns at other Newport schools.
“We are grateful for the recognition, but even more grateful for the opportunity to serve this community,” VSP said following the tribute.
The coordinated response involved multiple agencies working together to ensure student safety while tracking down the suspect. Newport Police immediately notified school officials upon receiving the threat, leading to the decision to evacuate the high school as a precautionary measure.
Officers searched the school building with maintenance staff while other law enforcement provided security at schools under lockdown. The search for Aiken involved checking his residence and using cellphone tracking technology, ultimately leading to his arrest at a Shaw’s supermarket on Route 5 in Derby.
Due to the nature of the threats, the Vermont State Police Bomb Team was called to search Aiken’s vehicle for potentially dangerous devices. Authorities later determined that no explosives were present.
The multi-agency response included the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Vermont State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs Enforcement, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement, the Vermont State Police Bomb Team, ATF, Vermont Fish and Game, Newport City Fire Department, and Newport Ambulance Service.
“I want to thank the numerous law enforcement agencies and departments that assisted us with responding to this situation,” Chief Bingham said at the time. “We take the safety of our schools extremely seriously, and we are always ready to protect our community from these kind of irresponsible and dangerous threats.”
The tribute at Friday night’s football game provided an opportunity for the school community to express gratitude for the professional response that ensured no students or staff were harmed during the incident.
