Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department announcing Wednesday afternoon an increased police presence at Knoxville schools in response to the recent wave of school threats.
KPD says officers will have increased visibility at area schools, particularly when students and staff arrive for the day and as they are leaving school grounds. An officer and supervisor will respond to school threats, regardless of whether the threat is actual or implied, and conduct a preliminary investigation. Following the investigation, a KPD Investigations Bureau detective will respond to investigate the situation further.
In its release to media Wednesday, KPD also stated that the Investigations Bureau has assigned one central point of contact to act as the clearinghouse for all school-related threats.
“We understand the stress that our community is feeling and will have zero tolerance for any threats of violence directed at our schools, students or staff,” Chief Paul Noel said. “We have and will continue to treat these threats with the intense seriousness they deserve. We will also charge any individuals who make threats towards our schools to the fullest extent possible.”
KPD also reports that, as of 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, officers had arrested at least six students, ages 12 to 14, for making threats of mass violence at area schools.
One 12-year-old male was charged in relation to a social media threat involving Holston Middle School. Another 13-year-old male was also charged for making a separate, unrelated school shooting threat at the same school.
A 12-year-old male and a 14-year-old male were charged for making separate, unrelated threats at Northwest Middle School. The 12-year-old was charged for a social media threat, while the 14-year-old was charged for making a school shooting threat.
A 14-year-old female was charged for making a threat involving Richard Yoakley Schoool.
A 14-year-old male was arrested for making threats involving Fulton High School.
KPD adds there are still several ongoing investigations into recent school-related threats.
