The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has detained 24 public school students since the academic year commenced for alleged written or online threats.
Fred Heid, Superintendent of Polk County School District, revealed this alarming statistic during a Thursday news conference, only weeks after a fatal incident at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
“Students will face arrest and second-degree felony charges,” Heid stated at the news conference. “The school district will seek maximum consequences for any individual who phones in or posts threats online, on social media, or via email.”
Heid also mentioned that the school district would pursue restitution for the resources and time spent investigating these threats.
Joining Heid, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd noted that there were 42 arrests for written threats against schools during the 2023-24 school year.
Within just 28 days this year, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has made 24 arrests.
“That’s why we’re all here today,” Judd said. “We can’t allow this to continue.”
Judd commended the app Fortify Florida, which enables students to report suspicious activities directly to law enforcement and school officials.
Heid provided insight into the recent surge of threats.
“Many students mistakenly believe social media is a suitable platform for attention-seeking,” the superintendent explained. “We investigate and conduct more threat assessments because we do not lower our expectations.”
The sheriff agreed, noting that some students follow social media trends.
“We see these TikTok challenges; if you follow them, we’ll send you to jail,” Judd said. “Most kids think, ‘This is crazy, I won’t do it,’ but a few think, ‘I’m crazy, I’ll do it,’ and we arrest them.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the school district for further comments.
Judd emphasised the importance of proactive measures to prevent potential tragedies.
“I’d rather discuss this now than be questioned later about inaction after a kid has brought a gun to school and caused harm,” Judd said.
What Other Media Are Saying
- WSVN reports nine Broward County students, aged 11 to 15, arrested for school threats, including bomb and shooting threats, with authorities stressing serious consequences and safety measures. (Read more)
- FOX 13 News reports on Polk County’s heightened school safety measures, including arrests for threats and a new Safe Stop program for bus safety, emphasizing community vigilance and legal consequences for threats. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How many students have been arrested in Polk County for making threats?
24 students have been arrested since the beginning of the academic year.
What charges do students face for making threats in Polk County schools?
Students will be charged with a second-degree felony.
What is the Fortify Florida app?
Fortify Florida is an app that allows students to report suspicious activity to law enforcement and school officials.
Why are there so many threats in Polk County schools recently?
Many students believe social media is a place to garner attention, leading to increased threats.
What did Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd say about social media challenges?
Sheriff Judd warned that students following TikTok challenges will be arrested.
