Marion and Other Iowa Schools Get ‘Swatted’ on Wednesday

As I waited to pick up Carly at Marion High School on Wednesday, my phone chirped with a new text message. It was from the school district. Students were being held in their rooms after a threat had been called in. Given what took place in Perry, Iowa law enforcement wasn't taking any chances. The all-clear was given about 15 minutes later.

I got another text message from the school district later that afternoon further explaining what happened.

If you're wondering what 'swatting' is, you're not alone. Swatting is a hoax where a false report is called into law enforcement, with the intent of getting them to send a large response to the scene of a horrific crime like a mass shooting or hostage situation, according to CNN. It can put police in a tough position because they have no way of knowing initially if the threat is real, and in the times we live in, every threat must be taken seriously.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Marion High School wasn't the only Iowa school to get 'swatted' yesterday. Schools in West Branch and Cascade experienced similar calls. No threats were found at either location.

The irony in all this is that the Gazette reports that the calls were made on the same day that Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill that would make false statements to law enforcement a felony in the state of Iowa.

Thank you to local law enforcement for responding to these threats and keeping our students safe.