Dozens of Threats Against Oklahoma City-Area Schools Prompt Police Crackdown

Schools across Oklahoma were on heightened alert on Thursday as a new round of threats hit districts statewide. Piedmont, Norman and Enid public schools were among those reporting incidents, and none of the threats were found to be credible. Authorities say the episodes fit a worrying national pattern that has alarmed parents, students and educators.

The Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) said in a social media post that 65 threats have been made against metro-area schools since the school year began. Thirty-three of those came in the last week alone. Although investigators have not judged any of them credible, officers are treating each one seriously, investigating every report and pursuing charges.

OCPD said some of the people responsible have been identified. According to its Facebook post, charges of Terrorism Hoax and Threatening Acts of Violence are being submitted to the District Attorney's office. Both are felonies that carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters indicated lawmakers could take up the issue. "I think that's a real possibility you could see something next session — some language to heighten penalties and allow us and law enforcement to move even quicker," he said.

Police stressed that a threat does not have to be genuine to bring serious legal trouble. "All threats are taken seriously, even if a person has no intention of carrying out the act of violence," the department wrote. A full investigation, it added, will include applying for search warrants and seizing any weapons the person can access, along with the electronic devices used to make the threat.

Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) leaders urged families to get involved. Wayland Cubit, the district's director of security, said children need to understand they should not create or spread threats, and that if they learn of one they should tell "a positive, caring adult." Superintendent Dr. Jamie C. Polk said the hoaxes have badly disrupted learning. "Every student and staff member deserves to feel safe while at school," she said, warning that such behavior "can alter the course of your student's school career with serious consequences." Polk also encouraged parents to monitor their children's online activity.

Neither OCPD nor OKCPS released a list of the schools targeted. Both pointed out that the vague wording of some threats has made it difficult to tie them to particular campuses. One school confirmed as a target is Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, where a student was taken into custody earlier this week after a threat posted on social media. OKCPS told parents the student would be disciplined under the district's code of conduct. It remains unclear whether the student will also face court proceedings.

Parents and community members are asked to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement. OKCPS has opened a 24-hour hotline for reporting threats or concerning behavior at (405) 587-SAFE. OCPD says its investigation into the wave of threats continues, and officials hope greater awareness of the consequences will deter further incidents.