Trending
ALPENA -- On March 31, an anonymous post announced a protest at Alpena High School.
While that announcement didn't actively threaten violence in any way, the unusual nature of the announcement sparked student and parent concerns so great that Alpena Public Schools implemented additional security at Alpena High School and Thunder Bay Junior High School.
On April 3, threats against the school were found in a bathroom stall at Besser Elementary School.
On April 4, a child impersonating a parent left a threatening voicemail at APS's Central Office.
Those incidents are only the most recent examples of false threats being made against APS.
While subsequent investigations would go on to show that the students and staff were never in any danger, the impact that those kinds of incidents have on the parties involved cannot be understated, officials said.
"School threats can cause students and parents to panic, which creates a cost that goes beyond taxpayer dollars or government resources," Alpena Police Chief Eric Hamp said in an email to The News. "Many investigative hours and resources of law enforcement and other partners are consumed as they oftentimes work expeditiously to respond and ensure the safety of students and staff."
Both APS officials and law enforcement take threats against the schools, students, or staff extremely seriously. Students found to have made those threats risk expulsion as well as legal consequences such as community service or even juvenile detention.
Asked what can be done to combat the increased frequency of threats against the schools, APS Director of Communications Lee Fitzpatrick advocates for better communication between parents and students about both the seriousness of those threats.
"The preventative step is to please talk to your kids," he said in an interview with The News. "We want every parent to talk with every student."