County of Macomb issued the following announcement on Dec. 2.
All of us share the same grief over the senseless tragedy and loss this week in Oxford. Since then, there have been other schools forced to shut down due to copycat threats. I want to make this perfectly clear that such threats are criminal violations and in Macomb County, such criminal violations will be prosecuted.
In the two years prior to the Parkland shooting in, February of 2018, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s office processed 17 charges of false threats of terrorism each year. In the year following Parkland, over 100 charges were brought. Anyone thinking of issuing such a threat should know that as Macomb County Prosecutor, I have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to issuing terroristic threats against our schools, and if you do so you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Everyone should know that Michigan law, MCL 750.543M – False Report or Threat of Terrorism – comes with up to 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. That is where we start in our office, and if you issue the threat we will charge you, prosecute you, and put you in prison upon conviction.
My office will work with the Macomb County Sheriff and the local law enforcement to charge those responsible for any threats and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. The education of our children in an environment where they remain safe must be the top priority of law enforcement. Any criminal activity that disrupts that, will not be tolerated in Macomb County and will be prosecuted, period!
If any resident of Macomb County has evidence of such a threat or has been threatened themselves, they need to contact Law Enforcement immediately. If it is an emergency or imminent threat, always call 911 first, even if it is an online post or other threat.
This is directed to every student in every school in Macomb County; we are here to protect you and we will stop at nothing to keep you safe. You will not be in trouble for sharing information with law enforcement. Coming forward and being honest helps law enforcement and the Prosecutor’s Office keep you safe. If you see something, say something, and if you tell law enforcement they can act. No student has a right to terrify, scare, bully, or threaten any other student; in fact, it is a very serious crime with very serious consequences. Just to repeat, we will prosecute every threat, every violation of the law. We will do everything in our power to keep our community safe.
Anyone can report tips confidentially on criminal activities or potential harm directed at students, school employees, or schools, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Original source can be found here.
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