Town of Montgomery Police and Valley Central School officials can be forgiven if anyone thinks they overreacted following a recent incident at the high school.

The incident in question was a fight in the stands at the conclusion of a high school basketball game between Valley Central and Newburgh Free Academy. As was reported, no fewer than 10 police departments and multiple fire and EMS units were at the scene in Montgomery on January 31. Town police were assisted at the scene by State Police, Orange County Sheriff, Village of Montgomery, Walden and Maybrook Police, Towns of Newburgh, Crawford and Wallkill Police and the City of Newburgh Police.

The situation escalated when a call to 911 reported a gunman at the scene. The information proved to be false. As we later learned, the incident was nothing more than a minor skirmish among spectators in the stands, something that probably happens too often. The players from both teams were safely escorted to their respective locker rooms, and no injuries were reported.

Some social media commentators wondered what all the fuss was about, and if it was a good use of resources to have all those police units responding. The answer is unequivocally “yes.” If members of your family were in the stands that night and you heard a rumor of a gunman in the crowd, you’d agree.

Both Valley Central and Newburgh, unfortunately, have needed police response in recent months. There was an unfounded bomb scare at Montgomery Elementary School. It led to a Saturday search of the school and later resulted in the arrest of an 11-year-old student, but the Valley Central administration was heavily criticized for not keeping them parents fully informed.

Newburgh had the misfortune of a shooting in the parking lot following the homecoming football game last fall. That led to the district, for a time, moving all athletic events to afternoons, as neighboring schools were reluctant to send their athletes into the city after dark.

School officials have an obligation to protect their students and any visitors entering their buildings. The news is filled with tragic stories of schools that failed to do so. Let’s give ours credit for making the right moves.