‘We have to do something’: How are school threats addressed in Western New York?

It’s someone’s job to prepare for a parent’s nightmare of receiving a credible threat at a school. What happens behind the scenes when those threats come in?

• Police have been investigating online threats to Batavia, Lockport/Newfane and Buffalo Schools
• None have been found credible
• There have been two threats in Clarence within three days

On September 16, a threat to Clarence High School was found on a nearby bike path. On September 18, a threatening comment was found on a Sheridan Hill bathroom wall.

“There have been 395 mass shootings in the United States this year alone, it requires a very proactive approach, we have to do something to disrupt the pathway to violence,” said Lt. Jeremy Lehning, Public Information Officer for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

The Process

7 News looked into how threats are handled by Niagara Falls City Schools and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Taylor Epps

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office takes the team approach:

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