Concerns After ‘Fake’ Student Causes School Lockout in New Paltz

New Paltz High School was put on a lockout yesterday after police were involved in apprehending someone claiming to be a student on campus. The story, however, is much stranger than a simple trespassing charge, and has alarmed New Paltz residents.

The suspect, 18-year-old Jacob Kooperman, was finally arrested at New Paltz High School, but the arrest was only one event in a long string of activities that all seem to involve different education institutions across the town.

Intruder on New Paltz, NY School Campuses

Community members are labeling the incident as a wake-up call for school security, including where and how Student Resource Officers (SROs) are implemented in Ulster County. The timeline released by the Town of New Paltz Police Department (NPPD) reveals a curious chain of events.

Timeline of Events for Alleged New Paltz, NY School Trespasser

Before Kooperman gained entry to New Paltz High School, he allegedly began his day by "engaging in reckless driving behavior" at SUNY New Paltz, a campus still reeling from the untimely death of student Raymond Rattray, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in January. From the SUNY New Paltz campus, Kooperman reportedly headed to New Paltz Middle School.

Trespasser at New Paltz, NY Elementary School

Officials say Kooperman was able to enter the middle school, which does not have an SRO, before a confrontation with school staff led him to flee the building. It is believed that from New Paltz Middle School, Kooperman headed to the high school, where he was able to enter the building through a door in the cafeteria.

Charges Against Trespassing Suspect Jacob Kooperman

Kooperman allegedly posed as a high school student before he was eventually confronted by a Town of New Paltz Police officer. After a brief foot chase, Jacob Kooperman was arrested and charged with two misdemeanor charges of trespassing in the 3rd degree and a felony charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the 2nd degree.

Student Resource Officers in the Hudson Valley, NY

Community members expressed surprise at the lack of a SRO at New Paltz High School, labeling it a "wakeup call" to police and school administrators. In fact, there are only a select few schools in Ulster County with these officers.

Which Ulster County, NY Schools Have Student Resource Officers?

In Ulster County, the Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and the Rondout Valley Central School District are listed as utilizing SROs. The Kingston City School District also lists an SRO at Miller Middle School, and Highland Elementary School has an SRO through an agreement with the Town of Lloyd. Wallkill, NY police have also placed an SRO in William A. Carter Elementary School.

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Absent from these lists is New Paltz school district. While the efficacy of SROs is still under review, security concerns including the incidents at New Paltz Elementary and High Schools seem to have reignited the conversation over the best approaches to school safety. Take a look at a more lighthearted incident at SUNY New Paltz below.