This week, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers (SROs) charged two students (both minors) from two separate schools for their participation in spreading false information regarding threats to schools locally and nationwide. One student was charged with interference of an educational institution, and the other for false reporting and the interference of an educational institution.
This stemmed from information received by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office SROs regarding threats against school staff and students in multiple school districts in El Paso County. Specifically, students reposted/posted false or misleading information on social media, substantially disrupting the school's regular operations, including student attendance.
“School safety is a high priority for my Office, and our commitment towards this mission extends beyond the hard work and dedication of our SROs,” said Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “It is something at the forefront of the mind of every individual working in law enforcement.
“I want to remind parents and students of the importance of communicating possible threats through Safe2Tell, talking to school staff, or reporting information to law enforcement.
“Every potential threat is credible until proven otherwise, and my deputies will vet it thoroughly. We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of our children.
“Sadly, due to the decisions of two individuals to spread concerning misinformation, students, parents, and teachers faced unnecessary fear. This incident is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of spreading false information.
“Thankfully, our SROs acted quickly and were able to discredit the potential threats and identify who and where the false information was coming from. I am incredibly proud of their diligence and thorough investigations into both incidents.”
Parents and guardians are urged to talk with their children and explain the importance of speaking up when they hear (or see) something concerning. Additionally, discuss the consequences of intentionally spreading or reporting false information and the strain on resources it can cause, taking SROs away from other duties which may impact the safety of others.
The Pikes Peak region is home to multiple school districts, and currently, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has ten designated School Resource Officers (SROs) impacting 40 schools.
To learn more about Safe2Tell, please visit Safe2tell.org