Kirkland police said Thursday that officers responded to a local school after it was targeted by a swatting call, warning that fake 911 reports can put lives at risk while tying up emergency responders who might be needed elsewhere. The department said it will continue to treat every call “as if the threat is real” while investigators work to track down where the false report came from. Families were urged to talk with children about how serious prank calls can be and to rely on official updates from police and school officials.
In a post on the department’s official X account, Kirkland Police said officers went to a local school after receiving the false report and reminded the public that “false 911 calls trigger real police responses.” The post asked anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators directly and to report suspicious behavior to authorities instead of brushing it off as a joke.
Why Swatting Is Treated As Serious
Federal agencies have warned that swatting and other hoax threats tend to come in waves and can lead to dangerous encounters between the public and first responders. As outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, hoax calls should be handled cautiously and reported right away so authorities can investigate, verify what is happening and clear any potential threats.
Recent Prosecutions Show Consequences
Swatting is a crime and can bring serious penalties, especially when it endangers people or crosses state lines. A high-profile case reported by The Associated Press involved a California teenager who received a four-year sentence after admitting to making hundreds of swatting and threat calls that targeted schools, religious institutions and other locations. It is the kind of outcome local officials point to when they tell families that these are not harmless pranks.
What Kirkland Families Should Do
Local officials said the safest move for parents, students and staff is to rely on official channels for information and to report concerns straight to law enforcement rather than amplifying rumors on social media. The Kirkland Police Department lists public contact details and safety resources on the city website, and the Lake Washington School District publishes emergency procedures and contact information for families…