The White House said Tuesday it won’t “second-guess” a decision by Los Angeles officials to close the school system in response to a bomb threat, saying local officials bear ultimate responsibility for keeping their communities safe.
President Obama was informed of the decision to close the schools, and the FBI had “conversations” with Los Angeles officials, said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. But he said local authorities “know better than anyone else” whether to take a threat seriously.
“I’m not going to stand here … and second-guess the decisions that are made by local law enforcement officials in any community across the country,” Mr. Earnest said. “This is ultimately a decision that was made by officials in Los Angeles.”
New York City officials say they received the same bomb threat that prompted the closure of the Los Angeles school system, but concluded that it was a hoax.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday morning he is “absolutely convinced” that there was no danger to schoolchildren in New York.
New York Police Commissioner William Bratton says he thinks Los Angeles officials overreacted by deciding to close the nation’s second-largest school system.
Mr. Earnest said the incident “illustrates something that’s important for people to understand — that ultimately it’s local first responders who are responsible for taking the lead in protecting their communities.”
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“These professionals are most aware of the unique characteristics of their community and understand what factors will influence the best way to protect the community,” he said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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