Nearly a dozen school threats this week in Kentucky and Indiana have led to school closures and arrests. But a secondary problem — after the initial threats were made — has been another focus for Jeffersonville police officers.
Jeffersonville Police Chief Kenny Kavanaugh said the problem isn’t just kids making the threatening posts. He said those posts have led to adults sharing the threats online, further spreading the dangerous messages and “inciting fear.”
After recent threats at River Valley and Parkview middle schools in Jeffersonville, police said sharing or creating misinformation on social media only adds to the chaos and interferes with the investigation.
“We have seen some adults that we’re identifying — we’re calling them agitators — they’re dropping this information in various locations and places to share with the community,” Kavanaugh said. “When we’re having individuals that are inciting public alarm, you’re installing fear, you’re getting close to that threshold and understanding where (the prosecutor’s office) comes in …”
He said some adults are sharing the posts in multiple groups without first calling police or school officials to report or verify the information.
School threats — many in the form of social media posts — have led to the district closures or security increases this week. Teenagers have been arrested in different cases from multiple counties, as well as a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Parkview Middle School, part of Greater Clark County Schools, charged with felony intimidation.
Kavanaugh said if someone sees a potentially threatening post, call police and school officials before sharing that post online.
Credit: Darby Beane – WDRB/Louisville
