Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Hancock City Police responded to an apparent threat at UP Health System-Portage Tuesday morning. The nearby Hancock Schools were placed in a modified shelter-in-place as a precaution as well.

HANCOCK – Hancock Public Schools returned to normal operation this morning after the elementary school and middle school/high school campuses were placed on a modified shelter-in-place status Tuesday morning. In a Tuesday statement from Superintendent Chris Salani, the action was in response to UP Health System – Portage having received a verbal threat, compelling the hospital to initiate lockdown procedures. Salani said with a modified shelter-in-place protocol, the schools continue to conduct normal operations within the school buildings, however there are no outside activities/recess until further notice.

As a result, and in an abundance of caution due the proximity to UP Health Portage, Salani said in the statement, both campuses of Hancock Schools initiated the protocol. “As the afternoon continues, and upon the ending of the school day,” Salani said Tuesday, “we will have normal dismissal/busing operations unless otherwise noted with any additional updates between now and then.”

Salani said SRO (School Resource Officer) Darron Olson and the Hancock PD were helping to ensure security and safety of both Barkell and the HS/MS campuses while the protocal remained in effect. Olson is a member of the Hancock Police Department. Among his responsibilities are ensuring school security. He is a military veteran, having served as an Air Force law enforcement specialist. He is a veteran of the Laurium Police Department.

Earlier today, Salani said the shelter-in-place had been lifted. “We are back to normal operations,” Salani said. “We’ve been in conversation, through our SRO Olson, with Hancock PD, and they provided additional support and awareness.”

A statement issued by UP Health Tuesday afternoon said:

“At Portage, our top priority is the safety of our patients, employees, physicians and visitors, and we take any threat to this safety very seriously. Early this morning, we increased security presence at our campus as a precautionary measure and worked closely with local authorities to ensure everyone’s safety. Operations at the hospital and clinics have continued as normal, and patient care has not been disrupted. We are proud of the swift action of our team and grateful to the authorities who are assisting.

The threat to the hospital was verbal, Salani said, but was issued off-site. While there was noting indicated from the information that the threat extended to the school, the shelter-in-place protocol was initiated as an over-abundance of caution. Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman Wednesday morning complimented the school’s actions. “Under the circumstances, with the information we had,” Sleeman said, “yes – they acted appropriately.” Sleeman said having the SRO in the school also plays a big role. “He is total top notch, and having somebody like him in that school when these situations happen, helping to make decisions that are best for the kids,” she said. “I’ll always say the kids are the most important peop