Statement from Mayor Chris Beauchamp, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates, and Superintendent Patrick McGee

Recently, there were arrests made involving a small number of students in Woonsocket. We want to reassure our community that no weapons were used, and no one was seriously injured. These were targeted incidents, not random acts, and they do not represent a larger issue across all of our schools.

Still, we must be clear: any type of fighting, aggression, or physical altercation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. When these situations occur, arrests will be made, and school suspensions will follow. Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students, our teachers, and our community.

We also know this is not a challenge that schools or police can solve alone. This is a community issue, and it will take all of us - parents, families, neighborhood organizations, statewide partners, and city leadership - to work together to make a difference. We are asking parents to be more engaged, to talk with their children, communicate any concerns to officials, and to help us prevent these situations before they happen.  We all need to be vigilant and confront violence before it becomes physical.

We are committed to addressing this together. With the support of the Woonsocket Situation Table and our community partners, we will continue to create strategies, set policies, and develop solutions that keep our schools and our city safe for everyone.

Woonsocket is stronger when we face challenges as one community, and that is exactly what we intend to do.