Police Presence Planned Friday at Ravalli County Schools
Due to a nationally reported TikTok internet challenge to threaten violence at schools, there will be "significant" law enforcement presence at Ravalli County schools Friday, December 17. However, according to Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton, there has been "no credible or specific threat reported in Ravalli County."
Thursday evening, Sheriff Holton released this statement:
Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton said County Law Enforcement Agencies are aware of and have plans in place to deal with the widely reported TikTok challenge that encourages students to threaten school violence tomorrow Friday December, 17th. Sheriff Holton stated the Sheriff's Office, Hamilton Police Department, Stevensville Police Department and Darby Marshal's Office are working together to provide a significant law enforcement presence at all school campuses. All of the agencies have been in contact with their School Districts and parents and students can expect law enforcement officers at the schools.
Sheriff Holton stressed that there has not been a credible or specific threat reported in Ravalli County at the time of this press release. Sheriff Holton said the law enforcement response is to provide sufficient resources to deal with any threat that might be made, as well as ensure parents and students are safe to attend school and functions normally. Sheriff Holton said, "we take every school threat seriously in Ravalli County and will investigate every incident. People who threaten violence towards students or schools will be arrested and charged criminally".
Law enforcement asks that all students, school staff and parents report any specific threats they hear of, so the incidents can be investigated promptly. Sheriff Holton thanked all of the school districts and separate agencies for working together and quickly putting plans together in order to maintain safe learning environments for our children.
Summary :
There will be a significant law enforcement presence at Ravalli County schools, in response to the widely reported TikTok challenge encouraging people to threaten school violence. There has not been a single threat towards students or schools in Ravalli County at the time of this press release.
The statement was released on the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office App.