By Sheryl Roadcap
TROY — Miami County schools again responded Thursday and Friday to a national online hoax that had resurfaced this week.
Multiple schools issued statements online or directly to students’ families Sept. 12-13 after a hearing about “a potential threat at some local public schools” assuring that there are “no specific or credible threats.”
Piqua City Schools Superintendent said it was an old, online threat that originated in West Virginia and had recently come back around, causing fear in the community.
“We received some reports from students and parents regarding some threatening comments related to Friday. We immediately began working with the Piqua Police to assist them in their investigation. As a result of the investigation, the comments were deemed not credible,” Thompson said, noting he sent messages to parents throughout Thursday evening to keep them posted.
Thompson said parents and students reported a Snapchat with threatening comments and let them know the school was working with the Piqua Police Department to investigate the threat.
Close to 9 p.m., Thompson shared that it had been determined the comments were not credible and thank everyone for reporting them to Piqua Police and Piqua City Schools so they could be investigated.
Within his statement to Piqua Schools’ students’ families, Thompson said in part, “We took the situation seriously and worked diligently to resolve it. We will have additional police presence as a precautionary measure in our schools (Friday). I appreciate your patience as we worked through this investigation but we wanted to make sure we had accurate information to make the most informed decision. If you should hear or see any threats in the future, please continue to alert the police and district as we take each threat seriously and make student safety our highest priority. Thank you.”
Troy City Schools, among others also took the threat seriously.
Troy City Schools posted on Facebook, “It has come to our attention there have been rumors of threats circulating online and on social media. We have spoken with the Troy Police Department, who received calls and investigated the situation, and we have been assured there have been NO specific or credible threats related to the Troy City Schools.
“Keeping students safe is our top priority. We will continue to work closely with the Troy Police Department as they continue to monitor this situation.”
Troy City Schools further posted, “As always, we would like to thank the Troy Police Department for its steadfast assiduity when it comes to keeping our students safe. We are incredibly grateful for the close working relationship we have had with the Troy Police Department over the years.”
Being aware of the threat to Troy public schools, Troy Christian Schools also reassured their students’ families there was no credible threat.
Troy Christian Schools sent the following message to families:
“I wanted to make you aware that this morning, we received reports about rumors circulating on social media regarding a potential threat at some local public schools. Upon hearing this, we immediately contacted the Troy Police Department, and Troy Public Schools did the same. The Troy Police Department has confirmed that there are no specific or credible threats involving schools in Troy.
We live in a troubled world, and unfortunately, these rumors occasionally surface on social media. We always take them seriously and greatly appreciate it when parents or students notify us about anything they’ve seen or heard so we can investigate. I also encourage us all to keep our communities in prayer during times like this.
Our safety resource officers on campus are aware of the rumor and, as always, are diligently monitoring our campus. We are confident in the safety of our campus today and look forward to a great Friday with the opportunity to worship our Heavenly Father in chapel!”
Troy Police Chief Shawn McKinney told Miami Valley Today they could not find any actual documentation of a threat made toward Troy schools. He believes Troy became involved out of a discussion about the fact there was something reported in Piqua or possibly Sidney, and it became “like a tumbleweed,” where it just grew and grew.
“The way I understood it, it was just a continuation of rumours from (Thursday). It got started with a discussion about a threat at other schools, No actual documents were ever found (with threats toward Troy schools),” McKinney said.
Tipp City Schools told Miami Valley Today on Friday that they did not receive any threatening emails or reports of threats within their school system.
