Schools increase security after threats

There's nothing that we can find that's legitimate and a real threat, and we're actively looking. So if somebody has something, please contact local authorities before you post it on the Internet. We're following up on some of these perceived issues online, but we're not getting anywhere with it.”

Globe Police Chief Dale Walters

For the last two weeks, Globe and Miami School Districts have implemented increased security measures on their campuses after social media posts sparked security concerns. 

The districts were notified that a warning was circulated on social media encouraging Globe and Miami students to be cautious, as well as screenshots of a shooting threat being made to the schools.

Those who took screenshots of the threat said that it appeared to come from the individual regarded by the Gila County Sheriff’s Office as a person-of-interest in the New Year’s Eve shooting several weeks ago in Central Heights.

However, Gila County Sheriff’s Office and the Globe Police Department, who have jurisdiction over the Miami and Globe school districts, respectively, have maintained there is no legitimate threat to either of the school districts based on what has been reported and the evidence they have received. 

“There's nothing that we can find that's legitimate and a real threat, and we're actively looking. So if somebody has something, please contact local authorities before you post it on the Internet,” said Globe Police Chief Dale Walters. “We're following up on some of these perceived issues online, but we're not getting anywhere with it.”

“All the information that we've gotten has been third and fourth hand information where people are claiming that our person of interest had posted threats,” said Gila County Sheriff Chief Deputy James Lahti. “But when we follow up on those, we can't verify that he has made any kind of threats or that he is even making posts.”

Lahti said that the department has seen and looked into the screenshots of the threats on social media. 

“[When] we get a hold of whoever posted that, it ends up being [a] dead end, and that, no, it didn't come from our person of interest,” he said. “So, at this point, we don't have any credible information that there is a threat even being made towards the school or anyone at the schools.”

Globe and Miami school districts implemented heightened security measures on all of their campuses since first being notified of the social media posts on Jan. 7, working with the sheriff’s office and local police departments. Both districts increased law enforcement presence and security resource officer staffing at the schools, increasing patrolling on school grounds and around the perimeters and parking lots of the campuses.

“We have been in constant communication with Globe PD to ensure that we have an understanding of what the potential threat is so that we can respond appropriately,” said Globe Unified School District Superintendent Christa DalMolin in an email. “Each school kept all interior and exterior doors locked, officers and administrators walked halls, checked doors, patrolled outdoor perimeters of our buildings and campuses and investigated all information that was turned in to us which is consistent with our safety protocols.”   

“The district worked in close coordination with the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Miami Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and neighboring Globe Unified School District to maintain a visible and proactive security posture,” said Dr. Richard Ramos, Miami Unified School District #40 Superintendent, in a separate email. “District leadership remained on high alert, monitored online activity related to student safety, and took precautionary steps to address potential concerns.” 

Nonetheless, some parents and guardians chose to keep their children home from school, resulting in smaller class sizes on campuses and accrued absences for the students. 

“We've worked closely with the school administration,” Walters said. “They've been trying to put out fires because people feel like the school should be closed, and there's nothing to justify that.”

“People are feeding the beast on social media,” he added. “If people have information, they should be sharing it with us, not social media, and understand that all these things need to be verified before we can take action on them.”