The Medford School District called for holding state weapons laws in schools to the same standard as courtrooms after the Jackson County District Attorney’s office determined that no crime was committed when a Medford School Board member possessed sharp instruments during meetings and while on school grounds in his capacity as an elected official — but never used them as weapons.

The DA’s office late Tuesday afternoon announced that it would not be filing a criminal complaint against school board member Michael Williams in connection with claims brought up last month that Williams — who works as an agricultural hemp inspector — was seen with a pair of shears and a knife on a work belt while at board meetings or otherwise on school grounds.

Oregon State Police completed an investigation in early December surrounding claims that Williams violated Oregon Revised Statute 166.370, which makes it a Class C felony for anyone to intentionally possess a firearm — loaded or unloaded — “or any other instrument used as a dangerous weapon” while in a public building, according to a release issued by Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick Green. Green will take the reins as the county’s elected DA starting next month.

Green stated that the law, when applied to anything other than a firearm, only prohibits a person from using the object “as a dangerous weapon while in possession of it in a public building,” according to the release. It does not prohibit a person from merely possessing a knife.

“Based on the information from the investigation, while the knife Mr. Williams has possessed in school facilities could constitute a dangerous weapon, there has been no instance where he has used, attempted to use or threatened to use the knife as a dangerous weapon,” Green stated. “Therefore, Mr. Williams cannot be found to have violated ORS 166.370 or any other criminal statute.”

In a statement to the Rogue Valley Times on Tuesday, Williams said, “I’m gratified that the police and District Attorney reached the correct conclusion, that merely possessing an item that could be used as a weapon is not enough for the statute to apply. Obviously it’s just a tool I carry every day as part of my job in agriculture.

“Neither I nor any member of the public should be subject to criminal charges for carrying tools on campuses, so this is the correct outcome and I’m so grateful to the authorities for making this determination,” the statement said.

The weapons complaints were detailed in a school board meeting last month, according to an earlier news report. Green’s release does not weigh in on school board policies related to the investigation.

“This investigation was only reviewed to determine if a crime was committed, not whether school board policies were violated,” Green stated, adding that the release “concludes the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office’s involvement in this matter.”

The Medford School District voiced strong disagreement in a five-paragraph, 284-word statement issued early Tuesday evening.

In it, the district disagreed with OSP’s determination that no crime occurred because the knife was not actually “used.”

“We believe this interpretation undermines the intent of the District’s no-weapons policies, which are designed to safeguard students and staff in our schools,” the district stated. “However, we acknowledge that ultimately there is a difference between criminal statutes and school board policies.”

The district said its ultimate goal was to enforce district policies prohibiting weapons including knives on campus and “reinforcing the principle that schools should remain unequivocally weapon-free zones.”

“Such policies are essential for ensuring safety, fostering security and modeling responsible behavior for our students,” the district added.

The district stated that if its weapons polices are violated, it will “pursue other remedies” available such as citations for trespassing and exclusions from school district property.

The district further stated that it’s “committed to advocating for change at the state level to align statutes impacting school safety with the stricter standards applied in courtrooms,” the district stated. In courtrooms, possession of a dangerous weapon such as a knife or a refusal to remove it “would constitute a criminal offense,” the school district stated, and strengthening the laws would “provide greater protection for all school communities.”

“We urge our constituents to join us in this effort to uphold the highest standards of safety in the Medford School District and across Oregon,” the district’s statement concludes. “Together we can ensure our schools remain secure, supportive environments where students can thrive.”