Executive Summary
- UW-Parkside issued emergency alerts late Saturday morning regarding a campus threat.
- Students and staff were ordered to evacuate immediately or shelter in place.
- UW-Parkside Police confirmed the threat was received via a phone call.
- The campus remains closed while law enforcement investigates the origin of the call.
KENOSHA, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Parkside issued a campus-wide emergency alert late Saturday morning, ordering all individuals on the premises to evacuate immediately or shelter in place following a specific security threat.
The directive was distributed shortly before noon on February 21 via the university’s official Facebook page and an automated text message alert system. University officials have confirmed that the campus is currently closed to the public and non-essential personnel while the situation is being addressed.
According to UW-Parkside Police, the emergency response was triggered by a threat received via a telephone call. Law enforcement officials confirmed the mode of communication but have not yet released specific details regarding the nature of the threat or the identity of the caller. Police are currently working to secure the university grounds and investigate the credibility of the report.
Investigative Outlook & Public Safety
This incident highlights the stringent security protocols adopted by higher education institutions to mitigate potential risks swiftly. The dual instruction to evacuate or shelter in place suggests a fluid situation where immediate physical safety is the priority while law enforcement assesses the specific location and validity of the danger. Authorities are expected to focus their investigation on tracing the origin of the phone call to determine if criminal charges for terroristic threats or false reporting are warranted.
