Off-duty cop caused outburst at Mokena school over alleged threat: reports

An off-duty Will County deputy went to his child’s school while armed and insisted on the removal of another student he believed made a school shooting threat, according to police reports.

Edward Goewey, 46, was charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the Dec. 3 incident at St. Mary Catholic school, 11409 W. 195th St. in Mokena. Will County Deputy Chief Dan Jungles said there will be an internal investigation of the incident.

Mokena police officers were told by Goewey that he went to the school after hearing about a student who “made statements indicating his intention to bring a firearm to the school and shoot other students,” according to police reports obtained in a Freedom of Information Act request.

A school receptionist told police that when Goewey showed up, he was “yelling about a possible school threat that had occurred two days ago,” according to police reports.

Mokena interim Police Chief Brian Benton said his department investigated the allegation of a threat from a student and found nothing to corroborate it.

St. Mary and Diocese of Joliet officials sent parents a message Dec. 9 that said a counselor spoke with a student who made a statement “that could be construed as a threat” and determined no credible threat existed.

The receptionist told Goewey the issue had been addressed by school administration, the student’s parents and a counselor, police reports said.

“Goewey stated that he did not feel that the matter was addressed properly and that he was no longer at the school as a parent but that he was now acting in the official capacity of a law enforcement officer,” according to police reports.

Goewey had tapped his hip and indicated he had a “concealed firearm” to the receptionist and school business manager, according to police reports. When police asked Goewey if he did have a firearm, Goewey “indicated that he did, tapping his right hip with his right hand.”

Officers were told that Goewey said he was concerned about children’s safety and felt that the student he believed made a threat “should be removed from the classroom and isolated until assurances could be made that he did not pose a threat,” police reports said.

A teacher told officers that the alleged threat issue had been addressed and there was “no indication of a firearm or threat to the school or other students,” police reports said. After Goewey spoke with an officer about the issue, he agreed to leave the school and return home.

St. Mary Principal Michele Alday-Engelman referred questions to Diocese of Joliet spokeswoman Mary Massingale. In response to several questions, Massingale only said officers responded to a “disruptive incident at St. Mary Catholic School and took a report.”