Long Beach : New Hot Line Gets 6 Calls About Guns at School

The Long Beach Police Department received six calls about guns during the first two days of a new hot line to report weapons on school campuses.

Cmdr. Anthony Batts said only one of the callers had information that was useful to police. The student called to report seeing a fellow student carrying a gun during classes.

To report the presence of a gun, students can call police at (310) 570-5800, 24 hours a day, without identifying themselves, Batts said. Police will investigate the calls or refer them to district security officers.

The hot line was announced by Long Beach school officials last month during a visit to Wilson High School by state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren. Just before Lungren’s visit, a 16-year-old student was shot in the leg in front of the campus.

Guns and safety have been a concern to school officials because of the rising number of weapons confiscated on campus, said Dick Van Der Laan, school district spokesman. Last year, school district officials seized 37 weapons, compared with 24 during the 1990-91 school year. This year, only two weapons have been seized, and officials believe publicity about the hot line has helped. School officials also plan to post flyers about the hot line at all high schools and middle schools, Van Der Laan said.