The Ridgewood Police Department and Ridgewood School District are investigating a series of fights that have occurred in town involving students.

The investigation began about a week ago after allegations of bullying appeared on social media. In one case, a student was said to have been beaten up so badly that he was sent to the hospital.

Many are calling the incidents severe bullying. But the school and police are shying away from that term for now and are instead calling it a series of fights.

Parents of Ridgewood High School students say that they are trying to find out what has been going on in the school and in the town.

“It does disturb me, I have to say, depending on the nature of the incident,” says parent Gwen Sullivan. “I’ve just heard rumors here or there.”

“We really are good community, regardless of how this looks,” says parent Nicole Mulligan. “The parents here do care a lot about, not only our children personally, but everyone’s children.”

Police say that they are investigating at least two related fights that happened at Brookside Field and Stevens Field.

The Ridgewood school officials promised that a thorough investigation is already underway, and also promised to use whatever happened as a teaching moment.

Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said in a statement, “It is also disappointing that other students were present who videoed the incident rather than attempted to intervene in order to prevent physical harm."

Videos of the fights were said to have been posted on apps like Snapchat.

The parents who spoke with News 12 New Jersey say that they are confidence in the school district’s ability to handle the situation.

“We're all responsible, you can't watch someone get beaten up. You need to find an adult and stop it,” Mulligan says.

News 12 spoke with a community education activist who says that the district’s refusal to call this incident bullying is part of the problem.

Police are looking for witnesses to come forward, especially students who may have video of the fights.