Kansas school district, police chief send serious message to students amid threats

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) - School districts across the country are dealing with a number of threats.

Now a Kansas school district and police chief are working to do something about it.

Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and Lawrence School District Interim Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift recorded a joint video to send a message directly to students.

They said they want to make sure the students know just how serious they will take any threat that is made.

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“These are serious matters, so we ask you students to help each other and help us because we were all working together to keep our schools safe so students can focus on learning and our staff can feel safe to teach,” Swift said.

Students who are convicted of making threats may face suspension, expulsion, and even jail time.

During the video, students are asked to report any threat the see, but not to repost, or share it. Sharing a posted threat may also get students in trouble.

Criminal threats carry serious legal consequences. Students, when you post things that involve school violence or school threats, those are very serious matters that have very serious consequences,” Lockhart said. “You can be charged with a felony and a felony means that you go to jail, and we don’t want you there.”

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School families and students are asked to report any safety concerns to an adult at school for immediate investigation and report any potential criminal activity to the Lawrence Kansas Police Department.

The video will be shown to all high school students in the Lawrence School District.

You can also watch the video below.

The message is also being shared with parents and guardians, as well as on social media.