School Threats on the Rise Statewide
GRANTS, N.M. – Statewide, threats to schools are on the increase. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeing a massive increase in threats to schools. In just the first six months of 2022, the FBI noted an 850 percent increase in threats of violence toward schools.
“Threats of violence” include school shooting and school bombing threats, even if made as a joke.
Cibola County has several different schools, most of which are public but there are a few private elementary schools in the community.
In 2021 there were two threats to schools – across the whole state – in the first six months of the year. So far in 2022 the FBI has investigated 19 threats to schools. According to Frank Fisher, Public Information Officer with the FBI’s Albuquerque division, most of these threats are hoax calls. Fisher said that parents need to understand that these hoaxes cause disruptions to a functioning society and there are serious consequences for the hoax maker.
This year, three people have been arrested in connection with these school threats.
"It's not unusual to see an uptick in hoax threats after a mass shooting in another part of the country," said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. "The FBI takes every threat seriously and those who post or send these threats can receive up to five years in federal prison, or they can face state or local charges."
Any threat made to a school – even if it’s made over social media, a text message, or even e-mail – is a federal crime and New Mexico’s federal prosecutors will take up the charge of Threatening Through Interstate Communications. School threats, even when a hoax, disrupt the functionality of a community and wastes local police, fire, and medical resources. The FBI wants citizens to know that if they see something, they need to say something. Anyone who sees something suspicious, or knows of a person wanting to commit an act of violence, they should immediately call the FBI at 1-800-225-5324.
Through a team known as the “Guardian Squad,” the FBI works with local law enforcement to combat threats which impact the public safety.
Grants Police Department, Milan Police Department, and the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office have all independently informed the Cibola Citizen that they are prepared to counter any school threats which may come up.
Since taking over as chief, both Milan Police’s Carl Ustupski and Grants Police’s Jeff Marez have made a special effort to protect school zones and defend the county’s students. Cibola Sheriff Tony Mace routinely has deputies check on schools in the county when the school year is in session.
Grants Police Department has increased its presence in school zones, making sure to have an officer in both Grants High School and Los Alamitos Middle School. Milan Police Department manages their minimal resources to try and have an officer in Milan Elementary during the school day, and has placed cameras which read license plates in the vicinity of the school.
For more information on hoax threats, and to find the FBI’s “Think Before You Post” campaign, visit
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/hoax-threats-awareness-100518