Florida Sheriff Deals with School Shooting Hoaxes in a Unique Way
As if we don’t have enough stress in our lives, we also have to deal with kids who think it’s funny to call in a school shooting threat. These hoaxes are dangerous and use up a significant amount of city resources when they happen.
One Florida sheriff is done with the games. He wants to ensure that students and their parents take such things seriously.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has taken a public stance against the recent wave of school shooting hoaxes by posting the mugshot of an 11-year-old boy on social media. This action was in response to the boy allegedly threatening to carry out a school shooting at either Creekside or Silver Sands Middle School in Volusia County, Florida.
The decision to share the mugshot online was part of Chitwood’s strategy to deter such threats by making an example of those who make them, aiming to reach both students and their parents with a strong message about the seriousness of these hoaxes.
The incident involved the boy showing off various toy weapons to his peers, which led to his arrest. The video released by Sheriff Chitwood, which received significant attention on social media, showed these items and the boy being taken into custody. This approach by Chitwood has sparked a debate.
For the record, Chitwood did provide a warning, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a shock.
“Since parents, you don’t want to raise your kids, I’m going to start raising them. Every time we make an arrest, your kid’s photo is going to be put out there. And if I can do it, I’m going to perp walk your kid so that everybody can see what your kid’s up to.”
Some community members and online commentators have praised his proactive stance against school threats, while others have criticized the public shaming of a minor, suggesting that the responsibility should primarily lie with the parents.
This event is part of a broader context where Florida, like other states, has seen an increase in school shooting threats following a deadly attack at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Law enforcement across Florida has been vigilant, with other sheriffs like Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony also emphasizing the gravity of such threats, urging that they are not to be taken lightly. The approach by Chitwood reflects a growing frustration among law enforcement with the frequency of these hoaxes, which not only disrupt educational environments but also strain law enforcement resources.