Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Student Safe After an Hour and a Half on the Roof of York's Academic Building

Student liaison officer played key role in resolving the situation, principal said.

Officials are not saying why a student was on the roof of the York High School academic building Thursday evening, but the actions of police officers are being credited with resolving the incident safely.

The student is enrolled in the district's summer drivers education program, but he is not a York High School student, York Principal Diana Smith said Friday.

Drivers ed and regular academic summer school classes had ended when the event unfolded at about 5 p.m., but there still was a lot of activity at the school.

"We had a number of kids there," Smith said. "We have a theater summer school class that was coming in at the time. We had several athletic camps that were going on, and there's an elementary band program at the same time. We actually had quite a few kids and families there."

A student from one of the athletic camps came inside the building to notify Smith that the student was on the roof. By the time Smith got outside, police already were on the scene.

Smith would not confirm whether the student was attempting suicide, and calls to Elmhurst police officials were not immediately returned.

"I can tell you I was so impressed with the way the police officers handled the situation," Smith said. "There was a real quick response from police."

She said she was particularly grateful that York student liaison officer Len Kolpak was there.

"Len, in particular, worked directly with the student," she said. "He did such a great job working with him. He is very skilled at working with young people, and I was so appreciative that he was there, along with the other officers."

It took about an hour and a half to resolve the situation, she said.

The student was on the roof above La Brigade, York's student-run restaurant on the south end of the academic building. It is not immediately clear how he was able to get on the roof.


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