In the week since 17 people were killed inside a Florida high school Omaha Police say they have investigated 34 threats against school districts or students.
Omaha Deputy Police Chief Greg Gonzalez tells NewsRadio 1110 KFAB they are taking each threat serious and warns students that any threat, especially ones involving weapons, will lead to arrests.
"If you make threats, and sometimes they can be flippant comments, if they're legitimate and there's probable cause for an arrest we will make an arrest," Gonzalez says. So far four of the cases have been determined to be criminal and three arrests have been made. Other arrests are possible.
"The other cases maybe didn't rise to the level of an arrest, but we investigated fully. Maybe there was counseling involved, school intervention or some sort of mental health services,"
Gonzalez is asking parents to talk to their kids about the serious consequences that could result in a threat, whether harm was intended or not. He says depending on the seriousness of the threat a student could be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.
Gonzalez says the investigation into whether a threat is credible they will interview the person who made the threat along with fellow students and family members. A search of the person's house is also possible.
There have been other threats around the metro area as well, including Plattsmouth, Elkhorn and Council Bluffs.