Two local teens are headed for a youth diversion program through the Chatham-Kent police after multiple reports of weapons spotted at a local high school this week.
Police say they were called to John McGregor Secondary School in Chatham on Monday and Wednesday over reports of weapons at the school.
In each case, police investigated and determined the calls had no basis and there were no credible threats present.
A follow-up investigation determined two teenaged girls were responsible for the calls.
These youths have been referred to the Chatham-Kent Police Service Youth Officer for participation in a youth diversion program.
“The Chatham-Kent Police Service, in partnership with the Lambton Kent District School Board, strongly urges individuals to consider the severe consequences of swatting and to refrain from participating in such behaviour,” police said in a media release. “Swatting incidents disrupt the normal functioning of emergency services and divert crucial resources away from genuine emergencies. These mischievous acts put lives at risk and can have far-reaching consequences for both the victims and the perpetrators. It is important to recognize that such actions are considered extremely serious and will not be tolerated.”
Swatting is a term that is used to described making a false complaint about a bogus serious crime that would encourage police to respond with a technical, or SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), team. Here in Chatham-Kent, that unit is known as the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).
