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Earlier this year, authorities received reports of an active shooter at East High School in Rockford, Illinois. The school was put on lockdown, and police responded to the scene with multiple units, including a SWAT team. After a thorough search of the building, authorities determined that the report was a false alarm, and there was no evidence of a shooting or any other threat to the school.
The incident was later attributed to swatting, a dangerous and illegal prank where a person makes a false report of a serious emergency to get a large police response.
These false alarms can have a significant impact on the mental health of students, parents, and teachers. The fear of being caught in an active shooter situation can be very real and debilitating. False alarms can trigger anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can also disrupt the learning environment and make it difficult for students to focus on their schoolwork.
Preventing swatting
“Too often, we think reactively instead of proactively in how we’re addressing students’ mental health concerns. To be proactive, we have to start recognizing when our students are struggling before it reaches a crisis point.” Dr. Amy Grosso, Director of Behavioral Health Services at Round Rock ISD (TX)
It is difficult to predict if someone is likely to swat a school. However, there are certain warning signs that may indicate that an individual is at risk of engaging in this—or other—dangerous and illegal behavior. Some of these warning signs include:
- Bragging about swatting or other illegal activities
- Making threats or engaging in violent or aggressive behavior
- Demonstrating a lack of empathy or concern for others
- Engaging in cyberbullying or online harassment
- Displaying an obsession with weapons or violent video games
- Expressing a desire for attention or recognition
- Having a history of disciplinary or legal issues
It’s important to note that not all individuals who display these warning signs will engage in swatting, and not all swatters will exhibit these behaviors. However, if you notice any of these warning signs, it is important to take them seriously and report any concerns to law enforcement or school officials.
Providing school personnel with the tools to document these and other concerning behaviors is critical to intervening before a crisis. Raptor’s patented StudentSafe technology brings together the systems that help schools recognize, document, support and manage the wellbeing of individual students. The platform includes safeguarding and behavioral threat assessment (BTA) methodologies which are proven to help schools recognize a student in need of early intervention and support for their wellbeing.
Additional prevention strategies include:
- Implementing security measures, such as monitoring social media activity.
- Providing training for law enforcement and school staff on how to respond to swatting incidents.
- Encouraging open communication and fostering a culture of trust and respect can help prevent swatting incidents and promote a safe and healthy school environment.
Improve threat reporting with StudentSafe
Preventing swatting requires a multi-faceted approach that involves increasing both physical and internet security measures, educating staff and students on ways to report concerns, and establishing a protocol for responding to swatting incidents by partnering with law enforcement.
To learn more about how Raptor StudentSafe™ can support your school’s threat assessment process, download our guide.
Related Resources
Guide to K-12 Student Wellbeing
Strategies to Recognize, Document, and Support Students in Distress
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