JENKS, Okla. — A message to Jenks Middle School families on Thursday said a student is in custody after a bomb threat made against the school.
The message from Jenks Public Schools said they received a tip Wednesday night on their Trojan Tipline about a student making the threat, prompting an investigation by police. They took a student into custody Thursday morning before that student came to school.
Jenks Police said the threat said a student would bring a bomb to school on a specific date in March. Police say there's no current threat to the schools or students in this case.
District spokesperson Rob Loeber credits the app as a useful tool made possible by past school bond elections.
“People are on their phones constantly and so we make it very easy for people to leave that tip," Loeber said. "And I think it’s empowered a lot of people because it is completely anonymous and they feel comfortable sharing information that way.”
David Crow of the Facebook group Jenks Parents & Alumni For Safe Schools is also thankful for the app but still has concern for his child who will start at Jenks Middle School this fall.
“You don’t want your kid going into an environment like that," Crow told 2 News Thursday. "I attended middle school at Jenks (and) never had anything like this, and never had some of the stories that we hear of violence and fighting. It just doesn’t have a place in our schools.”
After contacting Snap, Inc. the FBI and JPC identified the person responsible from an anonymous account as a student enrolled at the middle school.
Jenks Police said an arrest was made Thursday where the student lives, and juvenile charges have since been filed.
Officer Joshua Semke said this case serves as an example for parents as well.
“Always be on the lookout on your child’s social media pages," Semke said. "Constantly keep a daily view of what they’re posting, what they’re seeing. Luckily this ended up being a parent that actually was reviewing their child’s social media page and actually observed this threat.”
Both the school district and Crow echo that call.
“Number one is, talk to your kids about their use of social media and what they’re putting on there,” Loeber said.
“You hear all this talk about curriculum and this and that," Crow said. "Your kid’s calling up making bomb threats or doing something on social media? Mom and Dad need to be engaged.”
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