Wauwatosa East High School Prinicpal Stephen Plank issued a lengthy statement Nov. 21 seeking to clear up what he described as "considerable public speculation and concerns" over initial reports of a "hold" placed on the building two days earlier that delayed the release of students at the end of the day.
Local news outlets have reported about significant Wauwatosa police presence at the school that afternoon Nov. 19, which resulted in citations issued to three individuals.
School administrators initially had informed parents that the end-of-day hold, which required students temporarily to remain in classrooms, was in response to "a student health concern and a potential student altercation," but there was no threat to students or staff.
Wauwatosa police later released a statement to news outlets saying officers responded to a report of "disorderly subjects" at the school. Officers cited a 20-year-old for alleged disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and trespassing. A 17-year-old also was cited for disorderly conduct resisting an officer, and a 14-year-old received a resisting an officer citation, according to reports.
Plank, in his follow-up message, emphasized that school officials and police "have worked collaboratively to gather accurate and comprehensive information from an active investigation to ensure that subsequent communication is both complete and precise."
The following is the complete text of Plank's message:
On behalf of the Wauwatosa School District, Wauwatosa East High School, and the Wauwatosa Police Department, we are providing additional information regarding the events of Nov. 19, 2025. Since Wednesday, we have heard considerable public speculation and concerns regarding the timing of communication. It is important to note that the incident occurred at the end of the school day, and since that time, District personnel, East High School administration, and the Police Department have worked collaboratively to gather accurate and comprehensive information from an active investigation to ensure that subsequent communication is both complete and precise.
During the afternoon of Nov. 19, two separate medical emergencies occurred at East High School. Concurrently, two groups of students became involved in a verbal confrontation. During this period, some students violated the District’s new cell phone policy by contacting family members to come to the school.
A HOLD was initiated at 2:23 p.m. to safeguard the privacy of the two students experiencing medical emergencies and to provide appropriate space to address family members—including a 20-year-old individual—who arrived on campus, entered as visitors, and subsequently refused to comply with visitor protocols or leave the premises when directed by school staff, the School Resource Officer, and Wauwatosa Police. A HOLD is standard procedure when hallways must be cleared due to an internal incident; during a HOLD, students and staff remain in their classrooms.
The Wauwatosa East School Resource Officer promptly requested additional support from the Wauwatosa Police Department. In accordance with standard protocol, officers were dispatched and responded immediately. They addressed all individuals involved in the verbal conflict, including the non-school-aged individual who arrived on campus. Three non-compliant individuals were taken into custody near the school’s front entrance and vestibule. We are grateful for the Wauwatosa Police Department’s timely and professional assistance.
The objective of staff and law enforcement was to restore calm among students and family members who were highly dysregulated and escalated. Due to the prompt response, no physical altercation between students occurred. The Wauwatosa East administration managed multiple simultaneous situations, and significant disciplinary action will be taken. Any suggestion that the behavior of the students or family members involved has been minimized is inaccurate.
While the situation was unfortunate, it was addressed promptly, decisively, and in full accordance with District protocols, with essential support from the Wauwatosa Police Department. The administration ensured the safety of all students and staff. A communication was sent to families at 3:35 p.m. on Nov. 19 following a safe and orderly dismissal, informing them that the school had been placed in a HOLD and that a potential altercation had occurred. At the time of that message, school officials were still actively gathering and verifying information.
“Disruptive and disorderly behavior in the schools undermines the safe and healthy environment that all students deserve,” the Wauwatosa Police Department said. “Because of our commitment to and partnership with the Wauwatosa School District through the deployment of School Resource Officers (SRO), we were able to quickly resolve a volatile situation. The SRO requested assistance as the incident unfolded, and additional officers responded to help control the situation. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and the collaboration between the school district, its personnel, the police department, and the community helps us maintain a secure and supportive environment for every student.”
We also want to remind our families of the importance of your partnership to ensure safety in our school. The involvement of adults in student conflicts on school grounds is inappropriate, unsafe, and directly undermines the secure learning environment the District is committed to maintaining. Additionally, it is important that students practice respectful behavior to avoid the need for external intervention. We remain steadfast in our commitment to addressing these behavioral challenges and ensuring that all schools remain safe, respectful, and focused on the academic success and well-being of every student.
Thank you for your partnership, patience, and understanding.
