Gun found in holding cell while Rock Island-Milan students tour police department
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An unloaded gun was discovered Friday in a holding cell during an elementary-student tour of Rock Island Police Department, according to a news release.
Shortly before 12:30 p.m. Friday, a group of fifth-grade students from Eugene Field Elementary School were touring Rock Island Police Department. During the tour, Interim Police Chief Tim McCloud said students were allowed to step inside a holding cell, where one of them pushed on a pillow and felt the presence of a handgun hidden inside, the release says.
The student alerted staff, who took possession of the weapon. “At no time did any student physically see or touch the gun, which was determined to be unloaded and stolen from a burglary that had occurred in the Village of Milan in 2022,” according to the release.
Rock Island-Milan School District officials were notified. The Rock Island Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards has launched an internal investigation and continues to investigate the incident.
Once the Rock Island-Milan School District was made aware of the situation, the district immediately contacted parents of the students. Once those parents were notified, incoming Superintendent Dr. Sharon Williams sent a message to all Eugene Field families explaining the situation so that accurate information was provided.
“Scholar safety is our top priority in the Rock Island-Milan School District,” Williams said. “We appreciate the efforts of the Rock Island Police Department to keep our scholars safe during this trip.”
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