On Monday, Sep. 29, La Plata High School received a gun threat on social media.
School resource officer Mark Kaylor made it clear that any threat made toward our school, whether it is toward our staff or students, is taken very seriously. “Any threat made has to be taken seriously and investigated,” Officer Kaylor said.
La Plata vice principal Mr. Victor DiBella echoed Officer Kaylor’s statement, and said that threats are made when people “don’t think about what they’re saying,” and that it’s usually a heat-of-the-moment decision.
Most threats are made outside of school, usually on social media. Whether it is on social media or in person, the threat is brought to the attention of the officers and administration of the school. In most cases, the school then finds who made the threat, sits the person down and finds out whom the threat was toward. The law enforcement officers then take over the case.
When dealing with threats at La Plata, the process starts with an investigation. In some cases, the accused person’s home is searched to see if there is easy accessibility to guns or other weapons. The final step is determining if there should be any criminal charges placed on the accused.
The process does not differentiate between schools; it must always stay the same to ensure maximum protection for the students. Whether the threat is made toward the staff or students, there is no difference in how the case is handled. In a majority of the searches, police and school administration find that the threat was indeed an empty one, meaning there was never a gun brought on school grounds or that the student did not actually have access to a gun in the first place.
When making a threat of any kind, most people do not think about the consequences. All they think about is how they feel at the moment. When reacting that way, they are allowing their emotions to seize control of them. When threatening someone, they are then considered to be a risk.
Whether or not the threat is followed through, there are often serious consequences. These consequences vary, but often include criminal charges.
Do not take threats lightly. If you hear or see anything suspicious, reach out to Officer Kaylor, an administrator or a teacher right away.
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