TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security responds to rise in school threats

JACKSON, Tenn. — In our continuing coverage, schools in several states have experienced threats over the last couple of weeks.

For over a month, schools around the country were made aware of potential violent threats posted on social media. Although a majority of the threats were discovered to be a hoax, the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security said they do want to act on those situations until they know for sure if they are credible or not.

“And we partner with our local law enforcement agencies, mental health providers, with the schools themselves and SRO’s. All of us work together in a multi-disciplinary approach to get that person if they’re on a pathway to violence, get them off that pathway of violence,” said Gregory Mays, deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security.

It’s important to know that Homeland Security does not make the decision on whether you are notified about a school threat. That is left up to the schools.

“Different schools do it differently. Sometimes an email to the parents or sometimes the district will send out a district-wide email to the parents just letting them know that law enforcement has been made aware of a threat and the safety of their children are paramount and I think that’s the right way to approach it. We’ve gotten so many of these hoax threats that I don’t necessarily think it would be wise to email a parent every time we get a hoax,” said Mays.

The commissioner says since the school year started, they have tracked 321 threats to Tennessee schools, with 125 of those just in the last week. They encourage you to download the ‘SafeTN‘ app where you can report any threats to the school or to the community.

Students should understand that there are consequences for making school threats.

“Yes, you can get in trouble. You can get arrested for making a school threat, even if you don’t mean it. Even if there’s no intent to do it. When it creates a public safety response and drains resources and frightens people and causes fear in the community, you can definitely be arrested on a felony charge,” said Mays.

Mays said that in the event a student is charged, this would be considered a Class E felony. We were also notified on Wednesday afternoon that several Memphis and Shelby County schools were on lockdown as well.

SEE ALSO: Concerns regarding threats of violence towards local schools continue

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