An anonymous report prompted police to search the vehicle of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School’s new principal, Michael Smith, where they discovered a loaded firearm. Smith had recently taken over the role following the arrest of the school’s previous principal.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The principal of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School was reassigned Tuesday after a gun was found in his vehicle while it was parked on campus, Duval County Public Schools officials said during an afternoon news conference.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said Duval County Schools Police received an anonymous tip suggesting that Principal Michael Smith had a firearm in his car on school grounds. Bernier instructed officers to investigate, and Police Chief Short said a search uncovered a loaded gun secured in a holster inside the vehicle’s center console.
Smith received a criminal citation and has been moved to an assignment away from the Baldwin campus while both a criminal probe and an internal district investigation continue.
“Although this situation does not appear to have involved any intent to cause harm, firearms on a school campus are both dangerous and illegal,” the district wrote in an email to teachers obtained by First Coast News.
Beginning Wednesday, three senior district leaders — including Bernier — will rotate in to serve as interim principals at the school. District officials said they will later begin the process of selecting a permanent replacement.
“One of the things we believe we need to do is have a conversation with the Baldwin community about the hiring process before we go into a full-blown search to look for a replacement,” Bernier said.
Smith was appointed to the position following the June arrest of the now-former Baldwin principal, Michael Townsend.
Townsend was charged with failure to report child abuse relating to the case against a now-former Baldwin teacher, James Mulvey. The school district informed families that Townsend was resigning, effective June 30.
According to the arrest report, Townsend was aware of allegations that Mulvey was having an inappropriate relationship with a student, and a teacher who had brought the concerns to Townsend felt “blown off” and “not taken seriously.” As a school leader, police wrote Townsend is required to immediately report “suspicions of child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse.”
He has yet to be arraigned in court.
Watch the full news conference:
