At least 10 threats involving schools in SE WI in week since Florida school shooting
MILWAUKEE -- FOX6 News has counted at least 10 threats involving schools in SE Wisconsin in the six days since the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that took the lives of 17 on Valentine's Day, Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Below is the list of incidents (as of Tuesday, Feb. 20):
Hartford Union High School
Hartford Union High School in Hartford
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Student, 14, arrested on disorderly conduct charges after police say another student overheard him say, "I'm going to shoot up the school." He admitted to saying this, and his mother voluntarily surrendered three firearms from their Hartford home as the investigation continues.
Indian Trail High School and Academy
Indian Trail High School and Academy in Kenosha
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Extra police presence on campus; no further details regarding threat.
Germantown High School
Germantown High School in Germantown
Monday, Feb. 19
Two students, 17, 16, cited for disorderly conduct after a threatening message was found on a desk during a discussion about the Florida school shooting; investigation revealed no credible threat.
Mayville High School in Mayville
Sunday, Feb. 18
Police on Sunday revealed results of an investigation into a group being referred to as "school shooters" on social media. A girl, 17, was cited for disorderly conduct. Police said there was no credible threat.
Pewaukee High School
Pewaukee High School in Pewaukee
Friday, Feb. 16
Student, 15, arrested on disorderly conduct charges after making threatening comments at a pep rally that friends should "wear different colored clothes to school on Monday" or "stay home."
West Allis Central High School
West Allis Central High School in West Allis
Friday, Feb. 16
A "bomb-type threat" was discovered written on toilet paper; nothing suspicious was found by police.
Whitefish Bay Middle School in Whitefish Bay
Thursday, Feb. 15
Student accused of posting on Snapchat that "he was going to commit violence at the school." His parent agreed to keep the student home on Friday. School remained in session.
Oak Creek East Middle School
Thursday, Feb. 15
Police recommend charges against student who was arrested after threatening "to cause harm to those at their school." No credible threat was discovered.
Lakeview Technology Academy
Lakeview Technology Academy in Pleasant Prairie
Thursday, Feb. 15
Students kept in classrooms after threat discovered in bathroom; investigators said there was no imminent danger.
Waterloo School District
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Waterloo School District closed Wednesday, Feb. 21 after a threat was found on social media.
TOPSHOT - Mourners stand during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 15, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people d
PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 14: People are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Numerous law enforcement offic
FOX6 News on Friday, Feb. 16 spoke with Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper about these incidents, which she said are no laughing matter.
Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper
"The realm of charges that could be issued against anybody, no matter how old they are, ranges from a low-level misdemeanor like disorderly conduct up to some of the more serious felony offenses. We are not treating it as insignificant or kids being kids. That's not acceptable any longer for sure. Even if they say, 'I didn't really mean it,' and we can show that panic or fear was a consequence, we may be able to prosecute. The message we want to send to anybody is that there is a zero tolerance policy here," Opper said.
Opper said the most serious charge, terrorist threat, a Class I felony could carry a penalty of probation up to three and-a-half years in prison, and if police can make a case and send it to the district attorney, they will see it to the end. In most of these recent cases, the students were cited as police found the threats weren't considered credible.
Brian Dorow, dean of criminal justice at Waukesha County Technical College
"It's very troubling," said Brian Dorow, dean of criminal justice at Waukesha County Technical College.
Dorow said this behavior is consistent with other trends after national tragedies similar to the Florida school shooting.
"It's really hard to wrap your mind around why they do it. A lot of times, these are young kids. They may see the attention this story is getting, and not see the true consequences of what they are doing," said Dorow.