On May 13, 2015, at 1:38 pm, the Campbell Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from Rosemary Elementary School located at 401 W. Hamilton Avenue. School staff advised they had received a phone call from an unknown subject who was claiming to be on school grounds. The caller stated that they had a gun and threatened to start shooting.
The school staff activated their lockdown procedures while the Campbell Police Department, with the assistance of the San Jose Police Department, conducted a systematic search of both Rosemary Elementary School and the adjoining pre-school. School staff and students did an outstanding job following the protocols, which enabled officers to safely and effectively conduct the search of the school.
The incident took approximately one and a half hours until it was determined that there was no threat on campus. At that time, the Campbell Police Department assisted school staff in reuniting students with their families.
Our preliminary investigation into the initial phone call has determined that the call came from outside the U.S. These types of calls are part of an emerging trend across the nation that are referred to as “swatting.” Swatting occurs when a person calls in a threat, most often through a VoiP (voice over internet protocol) system or spoofed phone number, to report an event that would likely elicit a large public safety response.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Campbell Police Department takes all calls threatening the safety of the public extremely seriously, especially those occurring at schools. We will continue to respond to and investigate every call thoroughly to ensure the safety of the public.
