Law enforcement officials and school districts deserve commendations for alerting communities Dec. 11 across Ohio and Texas of bomb threats at school buildings.
Several Lorain County school districts were among those that increased law enforcement presence at their facilities after receiving the threats sent from another country via a Dec. 10 email.
Officials deemed the threats as not credible, but it still shook up school districts to the point where some considered cancelling classes.
The districts did a good job using social media to inform parents and the communities of the threats.
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office said school districts received email messages from an account that claimed to be a Russian organization targeting American schools.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation learned of the bomb threats at the schools, and after investigating the claims, determined there was no credibility found in the warnings.
The FBI did take the hoax threats seriously, because of the potential of putting innocent people at risk.
While the FBI did not receive any information to indicate a specific and credible threat, it vowed to continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share and act upon threat information as it comes to their attention.
The FBI also urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.
And, out of an abundance of caution, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office asked its road patrol to increase security checks around the schools mentioned in the threat for that night along with the next evening.
The Sheriff’s Office showed its commitment to providing the safest environment for students and township residents.
Elyria City Schools, as many others in the area, alerted parents of the threat through social media and email messages Dec. 10.
Officials at Elyria Schools took to social media, in particular Facebook, to say they learned of the threat that was emailed to the district and to other school districts across the state.
In the Facebook post, Elyria Schools officials stated the threat, which claims to come from a foreign terrorist group, is not believed to be credible.
Federal, state and local law enforcement looked into these matters locally and across the nation.
As a precaution, law enforcement throughout the area conducted searches of the schools and property not only in Elyria, but also in other communities.
Huron City Schools, in Erie County, also addressed the issue on social media.
Officials for Huron Schools stated that although the threat was not credible, law enforcement would conduct an investigation.
Huron Schools did not cancel classes, but there was an increased presence from the Huron Police Department at district buildings.
In Huron County, the New London Police Department used social media to state that they and officials with New London Local Schools discussed the matter as they assessed the threat.
New London Police Department Chief Joseph Hicks wrote that upon receiving the bomb threat, contact was made with other area law enforcement agencies including the Sandusky field office of the FBI.
Hicks wrote the New London Police Department was informed and was aware of the threat and that agents already were investigating the matter.
After careful consideration, a joint decision was made by the New London Police Department and New London Local Schools to move forward with classes, but with a heavy police presence.
Hicks went even further stating that If someone sees something unusual, to immediately alert authorities.
New London Schools Superintendent Brad Romano wrote the afternoon of Dec. 11, the school district received a threatening email indicating the presence of a bomb.
Romano did what he was supposed to and contacted local law enforcement officials who were in communication with the Huron County Sheriff’s Office and regional FBI field office to determine the source of the email.
New London Local Schools, along with the other districts, made the decision to resume classes Dec. 11.
In Cuyahoga County, Euclid City Schools Superintendent Christopher Papouras addressed the community on social media Dec. 10.
Papouras wrote that the Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI tracked several of these incidents across Ohio.
Ohio wasn’t alone.
Multiple public schools in Texas received similar emailed hoax threats, which also were deemed not credible, though some schools remained on heightened alert.
Ohio officials deserve credit for investigating and determining the bomb threat was not credible.
