A nationwide uptick in school threats has prompted some Valley police departments to take the mess around and find out approach when it comes to charging individuals accused in those crimes.
In Mesa, the police department has handled more than “20 school-related threats across multiple schools” within the Mesa Public School system, according to Mesa Police Detective Richard Encinas.
So far, Mesa Police have filed charges against 15 juveniles “for crimes ranging from making threats to disrupting an educational” institution, according to a statement.
Charging of the juveniles reflects a commitment to hold those individuals accountable “for causing fear and disorder” in our schools,” Encinas said in the statement.
“Even though these threats may not be credible, we treat each one as if it is,” Encinas said. “The safety of our students, staff and schools is of utmost importance. We will continue to use every resource available to identify and hold accountable those responsible for making these threats.”
The Mesa Police Department is working with Mesa Public Schools “safeguard” educational centers.
On Sept. 13, Mesa Public Schools sent out a letter to parents from Superintendent Andi Fourlis that said officials received “numerous rumors” of threats in a 24-hour span. Many of those threats initially came from a Snapchat post listing multiple Arizona schools to be “shot up,” the letter stated.
“Throughout our investigations we have seen an uptick of students making threats as a joke or a prank,” Fourlis wrote in the letter. “I want to make it clear that we take every threat seriously, even those that appear to be pranks. These threats are investigated by district security and our law enforcement partners.”
As a result, Mesa Schools officials plan to install weapons detectors at the junior high schools in the district, according to the letter.
Whether the increase in threats stems from a Snapchat trend or a challenge from peers is unknown.
“I wish I knew the why because we could put a stop to it,” Phoenix Police Sgt. Mayra Reeson.
#PHXPD detectives have made an arrest within 24 hours of the incident that left a school on edge.
Detectives worked around the clock to identify, locate, and apprehend the juvenile female who made the threat, which caused a school disruption and wasted valuable resources. pic.twitter.com/6pJZZzYkD2
Phoenix police are working with school unions to get joint messaging across to tell parents to report those type of posts instead of sharing it, Reeson said.
On Sept. 20, Phoenix Police arrested a male teenager after police said he threatened 10 Valley schools about a week earlier.
“Due to this threat and other potential factors, the schools involved had (about) 6,000 student absences in the days following the threat,” according to a Phoenix Police press release.
The schools involved were: Washington High School, Palo Verde Middle School, Camelback High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Franklin High School, Arcadia High School, Madison Highland Prep, Metro Tech High School Apollo High School and Millenium High School.
Phoenix Police have had to divert resources from its assaults unit to check out if the threats are credible.
“Real victims of real crimes are being effected,” Reeson said.
In the Sept. 20 arrest case, the teen “admitted his involvement” and stated the threat was made after a dare by a peer group, the press release stated. The teen faces felony charges that include making terroristic threats and computer tampering, according to the press release.
“In juvenile cases, the disposition (sentence) is completely up to the judicial officer,” said Jim Dettmer, assistant communications director at Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
According to Dettmer, each case and “its circumstances” are evaluated by the judge and the consequences imposed by the court can include the following:
• Court Consequences — community service, letter of apology
• Probation — which may include community service, counseling and treatment of up to 12 months maximum
• Incarceration in the Juvenile Detention Center for a term of up to 12 months
Anecdotally, the school threats can stem from a dare by a peer or seen by the individual as a way to “get back” at school officials for being wronged in some way or a way to get out of going to classes, Dettmer said.
Another separate case — in Goodyear — ended up with a teenage student being arrested on making a terrorist threat against Estrella Mountain Elementary School.
“What children and parents need to understand is that these threats are very serious, and we take them seriously,” said County Attorney Mitchell in a press release. “There’s much more to it than just ‘kids being kids.’ Lives are disrupted even if a shot is never fired. At a minimum, school days are interrupted because kids are sent home, or parents keep them home for a day or more. At worst, an active threat can cause trauma that takes a long time to overcome. This is also a drain on law enforcement resources.”
Brent Ruffner joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2021 where he writes about developments at TSMC and Maricopa County issues, including election topics.
He's written about stories that range from accusations that a Mesa monkey breeding facility is unsafe to what to do if you encounter a rattlesnake in the desert.
Community: He is a supporter of the American Cancer Society.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, May 2007.
Random Fact: He met former San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays at a Phoenix Firebird game after winning a contest for an autographed baseball.
Hobbies: Hiking in the woods and collecting sports memorabilia.
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