Police respond, use bomb-sniffing dogs; nothing found
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — A bomb threat cleared the Cape May County Park & Zoo on Monday afternoon.
County officials said the popular attraction was evacuated and placed on lockdown just after 4 p.m. Oct. 5 after 911 dispatchers received a bomb threat for the zoo.
The Cape May County Sheriff’s Office and the Middle Township Police Department responded and searched the grounds.
Visitors and staff were evacuated and the animals were secured as the threat was investigated.
The facility deemed all clear after four bomb-sniffing dogs swept through the park and zoo. A followup sweep was scheduled for Tuesday morning.
“The safety of our visitors, our staff and the animals in our care is always the first priority,” Cape May County Board of County Commissioners Director Leonard C. Desiderio said Monday evening. “I want to thank the Sheriff’s Office, Middle Township Police and every handler and K-9 team that cleared the park and zoo this evening.
“Their work lets us give the public a clear answer: the grounds have been searched and deemed all clear. We will complete another sweep in the morning before we welcome guests back.”
County officials noted that false bomb and active-shooter threats have disrupted zoos and aquariums across the country in recent months.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has reported roughly 40 such hoax calls since this spring, including incidents in Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, Georgia and Arizona. Those calls have forced evacuations and tied up law-enforcement resources; investigators have not found explosives in the cases reported so far.
County officials said they are treating Monday’s call with the same seriousness as any credible threat and is coordinating with investigators.
Anyone with information about the call is asked to contact the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office or Middle Township police.
The county was planning to post reopening details as soon as Tuesday’s sweep was complete. (That came after the Sentinel’s deadline.)