Unfounded threat at Pennridge High School prompts police presence. Here's what happened
Pennridge High School had extra police presence Friday morning as a precaution, but the report of a threat of violence there was determined to not be credible.
The extra presence comes just days after a number of Pennsylvania schools received reports of unfounded threats following a shooting at a school in Nashville that left six dead, including three students, earlier in the week.
What was reported to police about Pennridge High School?
A student at the high school made comments related to school shootings and violence earlier in the week, according to Pennridge Regional Police Chief Paul Dickinson Jr.
The chief said that was misconstrued by students as a threat, prompting concerned parents to call police about it. A student also reported the perceived threat through the Safe2Say Something application.
Safe2Say, which launched in the beginning of 2019, is an application that students in Pennsylvania can use to submit reports of unsafe activities or threats. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office runs the application.
More of Safe2Say: Is the PA's Safe2Say school threat system being 'weaponized'? Officials say false reports happen, but are rare.
The regional police department, along with Bedminster police and Hilltown police, investigated and determined there was no evidence of a threat against the school.
District Superintendent David Bolton said in a letter to families Thursday night that police would have an increased presence at the school Friday.
"We, again, appreciate those individuals who reported hearing a concern and our local police who worked with us quickly to determine that none of the reports were credible," his letter reads in part.
For subscribers: Is the PA's Safe2Say school threat system being 'weaponized'? Officials say false reports happen, but are rare.
Pennridge names chief: Meet Paul Dickinson, Pennridge Regional's new top cop
Police in Pennsylvania dealt with swatting incidents Wednesday
On Wednesday, a number of police departments throughout Pennsylvania were responding to hoax calls of violence at several schools. Schools as close as the Lehigh Valley were involved.
The calls, known as "swatting," are when hoax reports are made to prompt a large police response.
The calls can be made to target an individual or something specific. They may also be done to random targets in waves. These calls are often made to disrupt school or cause fear.
Pennsylvania State Police said the calls throughout the state were all unfounded. Investigators believe a computer-generated call was behind the threats.
No schools in Bucks or Montgomery counties were targeted.
These calls came two days after three adults and three children were killed in a school shooting in Nashville.
Police dealing with swatting: Hoax swatting calls bring police, lockdowns to schools throughout Pennsylvania. What we know
We are investigating a series of phone calls made to 9-1-1 centers involving threats of an active shooter situation or bomb threat at PA schools.⁰⁰At this time, all claims in these calls have been determined to be false.⁰⁰The investigation is ongoing.
— PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) March 29, 2023
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Unfounded threat prompts extra police presence at Pennridge High
