Cedar Rapids school district receives ‘threatening’ letter under investigation by U.S. Postal Inspection Service

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Community School District last week received a “threatening” letter that — while not targeted at any specific Cedar Rapids locations — was promptly turned over to the police department.

Cedar Rapids Police Department spokesman Mike Battien said school resource officers — police in the schools — were made aware of the letters and are “prepared and able” to respond to any potential threat.

“We take letters and other malicious communications directed toward any part of our community very seriously,” Battien said in an email to The Gazette.

A spokesperson with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Tuesday details about the alleged “threatening letters” cannot be provided at this time to “protect the integrity of our investigations.

A spokeswoman for the Cedar Rapids Community School District directed questions from The Gazette about the letters to the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Battien suggested calling the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for further information. DCI directed The Gazette to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Letters also have been received by residents in the Cedar Falls Community School District. In a message to families last week, a district spokesperson said the letters include “intimidating language toward public events, school buildings and other locations across the country.”

Officials with the Cedar Falls Community School District reported they did not receive a copy of the letter and had not seen one, according to a message to families. District officials have been informed by the local police department that there is “low risk.”

“We have been notified that a few letters have been delivered to random addresses in Cedar Falls, cities across the state of Iowa and other states,” according to the email to families in Cedar Falls schools.

Any information regarding a crime with a connection to the U.S. Mail should be directed to the local police department and Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com