(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – September 13, 2024) — El Paso ISD Police Services remains steadfast in its mission to maintain a safe and secure environment for all students, teachers, and staff and wants to remind the community that if you see something, say something. However, it is equally important to understand that making false threats against schools is a serious crime.
El Paso ISD Police Services Chief Manny Chavira emphasized the importance of this issue, highlighting the impact false threats have on the community:
“Serving as the Chief of Police for El Paso ISD is a sacred trust for me; priority one is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. I often say this, and I mean it, those are my kids... we’ve got to keep them safe.
It’s in that vein that we treat every threat made towards our campuses as real; we have to.
And that’s why I want our community and kids to understand, making a false threat may seem to some like it’s a prank or a joke, but it is very serious. These threats divert essential resources, cause fear and anxiety for your fellow students, teachers, parents, and staff; they disrupt lives.
And they can disrupt your life; Under Texas law, the consequences can range from a $4,000 fine and up to a year in jail, to more severe penalties of two to ten years in prison. These laws are in place for a reason, to protect our community and ensure that our resources are focused on keeping everyone safe.
Think of what committing this crime can do to a child’s future, their potential, what it will do their parents and family. I want to protect all the children of our district from the danger of false threats; these are my kids. Let’s work together to create an environment where our schools are safe havens of learning and growth for all our children.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.”
In partnership with local law enforcement, we invite the community to watch the video below, which outlines the serious consequences of making a school threat: Watch the video here.