A northwest suburban school is closed Tuesday after police say the school’s resource officer misplaced his weapon while inside, with police calling the incident “embarrassing” and “unfortunate” as a search and investigation remains ongoing.
The incident took place Monday at Forest View Education Center in Arlington Heights, a press release from the Arlington Heights Police Department said.
According to the release, an Arlington Heights police officer assigned to the school as a resource officer had removed his gun from his holster while using the restroom just before students were dismissed for the day.
Shortly after classes were dismissed, the officer realized his firearm was missing after being left unattended in the bathroom.
Hallway surveillance images were immediately reviewed, police said, which showed a limited number of people had entered the restroom the officer used. An extensive search of the building and grounds was conducted by authorities, including K9 units and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police, but the gun was not found.
Out an abundance of caution, school administrators made the decision to cancel all classes Tuesday, the release said. Additional uniformed police officers were expected to be on campus Tuesday and in the coming days, as a “detailed investigation” into the location of the stolen or misplaced gun continues.
“The Arlington Heights Police Department regrets this unfortunate and embarrassing incident occurred,” the release said. “We are committed to remaining accountable for our actions as an organization and taking responsibility for the frustration and anger this incident caused within our school community.”
In a statement sent to families Monday, the school said it received confirmation that the gun was not in the building, and has not yet been recovered. Students and staff were advised to not report to school unless directly asked to.
“We understand how concerning this information is for our school community,” the statement, signed by Director Caiti Druger said.
According to the school’s website, Academy at Forest View, located at 2121 South Goebbert Road, provides students instruction towards high school graduation credits in a smaller setting with more support for social-emotional learning. Specialized schools at the center include The Academy at Forest View, International Newcomer Academy, Vanguard School, Life, and the Young Adult Program.
