Schertz PD: Students making video to reduce threats made against schools

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — The Schertz Police Department (SPD) is concerned about the growing number of threats that are being made against local schools, but the problem extends beyond the San Antonio area – or Texas, for that matter.

Law enforcement across the United States wants to bring down the number of threats made against schools, which often bring criminal charges against children not old enough to drive a car.

Students in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD (SCUC ISD) are working in collaboration with the Cibolo Police Department and SPD on a video message intended to create awareness of just how serious these threats are, and how easily they can be avoided.

“It is imperative that our youth fully understand the personal and community harm from making such threats, it is a serious crime with serious negative consequences that can not only be short term but lifelong,” said Schertz Police Chief Jim Lowery. “We need our parents to be engaged and have the courage to talk to their children about this issue or any other topic; it does not have to be a difficult conversation.”

Investigators often find that the main threats are coming from social media posts or someone saying something out of frustration or anger.

On November 12, 2024, the Schertz Police Department detained and charged the 12th student of the 2024-2025 school year in its  jurisdiction for making a terroristic threat. 

In all, there have been 17 students arrested for similar charges district-wide since the beginning of classes in August.