In the wake of a frightening school lockdown in Albert Lea on Monday, one southeast Minnesota police officer is being praised for going the extra mile to calm a scared student.
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Threat of Violence Prompts School Lockdowns in Albert Lea
On the morning of September 22, the Albert Lea Police Department announced that a threat of violence had been intercepted through FBI social media monitoring. Officers quickly notified school officials, and students were ushered into buildings, with some being put into secure mode.
Law enforcement swarmed to campuses while investigators tracked down a juvenile female considered a person of interest. Authorities later confirmed there was no active or ongoing threat to staff or students, but not before fear rippled through families across the region.
Read More: Albert Lea Schools Lockdown Following FBI Tip On Threat
That fear followed one young boy into the evening hours. His grandmother, who lives in West Concord, said he was too nervous to go to school the next day. Unsure what else to do, she called up West Concord Police Officer David Myrom.
What happened next is what’s winning hearts online.
SE Minnesota Officer’s Video Message After School Threat Reassures Scared Student
Officer Myrom recorded a personal video message for the student, reassuring him that he wasn’t alone:
“Hi, Hayden, this is Officer Myrom. I understand you are a little bit nervous to go to school after what happened in Albert Lea today, but I’m here to tell you, there are men and women like me that will make sure nothing happens to you along with your parents, teaching staff and everybody at the school. So stay strong, stay safe, and we got your back.”
The video (included below), later shared by West Concord Mayor Randy McCool, struck a chord.
“This is exactly the story that needs to be shared in the current turmoil,” McCool wrote. “This is not about politics, who to blame, what side you are on. This is the basic human need to feel safe and comforted. They haven’t asked for this recognition but are very deserving of it.”
For the boy on the other end of the screen, it was more than a message; it was the kind of reassurance every child deserves. As his grandmother put it, “My grandson doesn’t care where someone is from. He just needs to know what every child in our own community needs—to know to run to our officers, not from them. To know that they’ve got their back.”
At a time when school threats have become an all-too-familiar headline, this simple act of kindness is a reminder of what community policing can mean at its best. Showing up for kids, calming fears, and proving that behind the badge are people who care.
Thank you, Officer Myrom, for taking the time to show this young man and the rest of the community that you and your colleagues truly care. And thank you for having our back.
Here is the video (might have to give it a second to load):