DUNLAP, Ill. (25 News) – A meeting could soon occur between the head of Dunlap schools and the Peoria County Sheriff to address “swatting” incidents.
It would come in the wake of an incident this past Friday, where students and faculty were forced to evacuate Dunlap High School after a bomb threat was called into the building. No explosives were found.
Sheriff Chris Watkins says about 20 people were deployed to the school to help clear and secure the scene over a period of around two and a half hours. He says it was determined to be a string of nationwide, fake threats.
Watkins says they are doing follow-up work to determine where the call came from, whether it’s from a student or overseas.
Watkins tells 25 News that “swatting” threats are becoming more common, but they all must be taken seriously.
“It takes a lot of resources, because Dunlap’s a very large school, [there are] a lot of kids. It puts a strain on all of us,” he said. “The last thing you want is somebody hurt over a hoax, too, but once again, we have to take these seriously and investigate them.”
Dunlap Community School District Superintendent Scott Dearman says the discussion topics with the sheriff include improving protocols and communications. But he says the district wants to rely on the sheriff’s office heavily.
“I’m curious to sit down as a group, now that the dust is settled and everybody’s thinking with a clearer head, to look back objectively with hindsight being 20/20,” Dearman said.
Dearman says emails, texts, and calls to parents were sent out on Friday, and prefers to over communicate during those types of incidents. He also wants parents to try and avoid coming to the school grounds as best as possible, in case a repeat incident occurs, saying it can add to the chaos.
(Reporting by Liz Lape)
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