KSP asks parents to step in following surge of school threats

KENTUCKY ( FOX 56 ) — Kentucky State Police (KSP) encourages parents to speak with their children after a surge of school threats across the Commonwealth.

Since Monday, at least 12 counties’ school days have been disrupted due to reported school threats.

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“We live in an age where you can’t take threats lightly, and that also means you can’t make threats lightly,” said Sam Wade, Jessamine County High School school resource officer. “With the shooting that occurred in Georgia, as tragic as it was, and then us having a shooting in Laurel County so close to home, I think you have some bad actors that like to piggyback and try to see as much panic and chaos that they can cause.”

Most of the threats have originated from social media and spread among students on apps such as Snapchat.

“Troopers urge parents to have a conversation with their children about the dangers and consequences of posting threatening messages on social media or online,” KSP said. “Troopers also ask parents to speak with their children about reporting any concerning information they may come across on social media or online to an adult.”

Schools and law enforcement encourage parents and students to say something if they see something concerning, despite any doubts that the threat is substantiated.

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“Kentucky State Police thoroughly investigates all reported threats of school violence regardless of context or intent,” KSP said. “KSP collaborates with local law enforcement officers and school administration personnel to provide a safe environment for students to focus on furthering their education while in school.”

So far, five juveniles are facing terroristic threatening charges as a result.

“According to the Kentucky Revised Statute, threats of violence directed toward a school are terroristic threatening 1 ^st degree, which is a Class C felony,” KSP said.

A Class C felony is a “serious crime,” per KSP, and those charged may be subject to five to 10 years in prison.

“Even if a student says we were joking, it was not really a threat, we’re going to treat every threat seriously and we’re going to turn it over to local law enforcement to deal with,” said Kim Adkins, the director of student services for Hardin County Schools.

“When we come across something like this, if a threat has been made and we can track it back to who made that threat or someone trying to cause panic with those threats, then we do follow up with charges,” Wade said.

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