HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA– October 10, 2024, many school districts around the state and country have been affected by false reports of threats of violence against students and school staff, often posted and recirculated on social media. Some schools have received internet-based phone calls with these threats, which turn out to be unsubstantiated. It appears to be part of a hoax known as “swatting.”
In San Benito County, we know that many families are understandably concerned about school safety. Please know that the top priority of our local school officials is the safety and well-being of students and staff, and the Hollister Police Department, San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, and San Benito County Probation Department share that focus. We take all reports of potential threats seriously, and we are making every effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe.
This disturbing trend of threatening social media posts has been an issue nationwide, and, thankfully, most if not all threats are not credible, nor do they originate anywhere near our community. These threats can be highly disruptive to teaching and learning while causing a great deal of stress and anxiety for students, families, and staff alike. We want to emphasize the importance of responsible social media use and the dangers of spreading rumors. Parents or guardians need to speak to their children regarding the real consequences of making threats in person or online. And that those threats will be investigated and result in consequences for those responsible.
As local educators and law enforcement agencies, we are asking for our community’s help in not sharing rumors or posts referencing unsubstantiated threats via social media or text messages. Instead, the best way to immediately address any school safety concerns is to contact your school or district office and/or local law enforcement rather than re-posting threats to social media.
As you can imagine, these types of social media posts put schools and law enforcement agencies in a difficult position. We must respond to and investigate all potential threats while minimizing disruptions to the learning process as much as possible. We are asking for your support as we deal with this nationwide trend locally.
Students identified for inappropriate behavior on campus will face disciplinary actions, which may include suspension and/or expulsion. In cases of severe misconduct, students may also be subject to legal consequences, including potential charges being pressed by the district due to the severity of their actions.
Our local educators and law enforcement agencies are proud to be a part of this community, and we are grateful for the support of our families and community members. When we all work together to report threats and not spread unsubstantiated rumors, we create a safer school environment for all students, staff, and families.
We would like to continue to encourage our students and the school community to report anything that could constitute a threat to school safety. We appreciate calls to our anonymous WeTip line at 800-78-CRIME. You may also contact the Hollister Police Department at (831) 636-4331.
Sincerely,
Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso
San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor
San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum
Hollister High School Principal Kevin Medeiros
San Benito High School District School Security and Safety Supervisor Nicholas Rabago
Hollister School District Interim Superintendent, Kip Ward
Hollister High School School Resource Officer Nick Rudolfs
