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The Menlo Park Police Department and City Hall were closed for a little more than an hour the morning of Thursday, April 12, after someone brought a “suspicious substance” that he or she had received in the mail to the Menlo Park Police Department.
According to a tweet from Interim Police Chief Dave Bertini, someone brought a letter with a suspicious powder in to the police department. In response, the department called the Mark Fire Protection District and “activated” the San Mateo County HazMat Team.
The police department and fire district followed “established protocols” for dealing with “potentially hazardous materials,” according to a news bulletin from the city of Menlo Park, including evacuating the police department and City Hall. Affected employees were directed to other facilities during the closure.
The suspicious substance was found to be inert and City Hall reopened around 8:40 a.m., according to the bulletin. As City Hall and the police department are generally open to the public starting at 7:30 a.m., the closure lasted, at most, a little more than an hour, said Clay Curtin, assistant to the city manager. The suspicious substance, he said, was found to be “not hazardous at all.”
The incident is under ongoing criminal investigation, said Police Commander William Dixon.
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Good grief! I drove past on my way to swim practice. There must have 30 emergency vehicles outside, literally dozens of fire, police and Hazz Matt guys etc. Not much going on in Menlo Park at 7:00 am …. I guess.
Charles Reilly – I often have the same reaction to what looks like a complete over-reaction by emergency responders. Then I remind myself that these folks are on duty anyway, and can always benefit from the practice of responding to what could be – if not this time, maybe the next time – a serious emergency. In other words, good training opp at no extra cost to the taxpayers!
I heard the substance was an herbal supplement that would motivate 40 solid hours per week of work and no desire for any compensation beyond what is commensurate for skill level and education.
Now if either of the 2 cynical commenters worked at the PD what would you prefer the PD to do. They followed protocol and no one would be laughing if people had become ill. Perhaps a less cynical response would be more appropriate.