POSEY COUNTY, Ind. (WEHT) — Law enforcement is urging parents across the Tri-State to speak up after a surge in school threats. In the past week, several schools have stepped up security measures because of a nationwide Snapchat threat.
“When law enforcement shows up, they say ‘Oh I did not mean it. It was a joke, it was a prank.’ And they are getting held accountable for those threats,” says Posey County Chief Deputy, Jeremy Fortune.
The most recent threat is in Henderson County. Police posted on social media tonight, notifying parents of a Snapchat. Police say the Snapchat is vaguely written and has no specific direct connection to any county schools or students. Police say they are investigating the post and are working with schools to ensure the safety of staff and students.
Last Friday, Mount Vernon Police say they detained a juvenile after receiving a tip about a possible threat during the Mount Vernon High School football game. Police say they searched the juvenile’s home and car and found no gun, or evidence that any threats were made.
Then in Warrick County, schools sent families two letters about threats within the last 24 hours. School officials say the latest one involves a picture of a student with a gun in a school bathroom from a news article in Texas from 2020.
In Gibson County, sheriff’s deputies say a juvenile was arrested on Thursday after allegedly making threatening statements.
In Kentucky, Greenville Police say they arrested a Muhlenberg County student for terroristic threatening after they say a student made a threatening post on social media.
“There are no half-hearted threats to law enforcement. There are no jokes. It is all serious and we take every single post seriously until we can prove otherwise,” says Deputy Fortune.
Deputy Fortune says in some cases, the threats impact the families of law enforcement officers.
“It is not just a school, it is a school where our children go. And a lot of the time, we’ve grown up with these other kids, coaching them in softball or basketball or whatever,” Deputy Fortune says.
Deputy Fortune says school resource officers play a critical role in investigating threats.
“These kids were more willing to talk to our school resource officers than they would our detectives or the FBI, or another police officer coming in,” Deputy Fortune says.
The deputy says these threats can be hard to investigate and say parents can help stop the threat before it starts, by talking with their children and checking on social media.
“I know that it is not a popular thing to do among parents, they do not want to impede on their child’s life. However, we are at an age now where you have to do those things if you want your child to be safe. You have to step in as the responsible parent and know what your child is doing,” Deputy Fortune says.
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