Large Law Enforcement Gathering Addresses Online School Threats, Issues with Posting to Social Media
By Jeff Toquinto on September 12, 2024
Law enforcement from across Harrison County, along with officials from the Harrison County Board of Education, gathered in Clarksburg today in an effort to alleviate concerns regarding reports of online threats at local schools and how to address those concerns.
An afternoon press conference was held in the conference room of the Harrison County Sheriff's Office led by Sheriff Robert Matheny. He was joined by Bridgeport Police Chief Mark Rogers and Lead Detective Sgt. Brett Stewart, Clarksburg Police Chief Mark Kiddy, West Virginia
State Polic Sgt. Roger Glaspell, and Sheriff’s Lt. Zach Mealey.
State Polic Sgt. Roger Glaspell, and Sheriff’s Lt. Zach Mealey.
Superintendent Dora Stutler and Director of Safety and Discipline Jason Snider were on hand for the BOE.
The gathering has come in the wake of a mass of threats online that appear to target schools in West Virginia and surrounding states. The BOE posted an FBI alert regarding the threats this morning.
Also, reports of a threat to Robert C Bryd were incorrect even though the school was placed on a "code yellow" for precautionary reasons for "about 15 minutes." Matheny, and in particular Kiddy, made it a point to say there was no threat. Officials say that situation escalated out of control due to the numerous rumors and conjecture posted on social media.
“We collectively are confident that your children are safe in the Harrison County Schools in relating to any threats or rumors of threats that have previously came to light prior to this (2:45 p.m. press) conference today,” said Matheny.
Matheny then asked for all future concerns that parents or others hearing any situation regarding school problems to report them through the West Virginia Safe Schools Helpline. The helpline can be accessed through the Harrison County Board of Education Web site or directly at https://www.safeschoolhelpline.com/.
Unfortunately, law enforcement instead spent a good deal of the day reacting to postings on social media, the officials at the meeting said, ended up going out of control, particularly on Facebook. While no schools in Harrison County were impacted with an actual threat, multiple posts on social media led to officers eventually having to dispel them.
“We’ve been inundated with false truths, half-truths, and rumors on social media outlets that has made our job in protecting our students, staff, and facilities extremely difficult,” said Matheny. “The time that we spent running down false information, Facebook posts that are based solely 
on rumors, we could have spent that time and getting to the source and investigating if there are any problems.”
on rumors, we could have spent that time and getting to the source and investigating if there are any problems.”
Stutler also encouraged individuals to use Safe Schools Helpline.
“We have other options (such as the helpline) instead of posting things on social media that are incorrect that often lead us on paths we don’t need to go down,” said Stutler.
Part of the issue, those gathered said, involved a list on social media that contained names of schools. Some of the schools that appeared to be local were schools with familiar names as in other areas. This happened in Marion County earlier this week. Still, multiple issues were addressed.
“Trust me when I say the priority and safety in the school system for students and staff and facilities is paramount,” said Rogers. “Nothing will stop us from making sure that is our highest priority.”
Rogers, like the others, said when there is concern, going to social media first delays action. He said going to the helpline, which takes the information in Charleston and then quickly disseminates it locally, works best.
“That allows us to do our jobs more efficiently and, typically, faster than trying to run down every social media post,” said Rogers.
Matheny said perhaps more than a dozen calls were investigated today. Unfortunately, he added that only one or two came thought the Safe Schools initiative, while the others were for information put out on social media.
The Robert C. Byrd incident did lead to multiple parents picking up their children. Stutler confirmed that there were students picked up at other school throughout Harrison County.
Later this afternoon, Gov. Jim Justice announced that he had directed the West Virginia Fusion Center to act as the central repository for all threats of violence received at more than 45 schools in West Virginia. The Governor also directed state agencies to act in a coordinated manner to diligently investigate social media posts and warnings circulating in communities across the state.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows, from left, Sheriff Robert Matheny, Harrison County Schools Superintendent Dora Stutler, Bridgeport Police Chief Mark Rogers, and Bridgeport Detective Commander Brett Stewart. Second photo is of Rogers, while Stutler is shown in the third image. Clarksburg Police Chief Mark Kiddy is shown below.
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