CCSO Says Threats Against Schools Not Credible

The Cocke County Sheriff’s office was one of several law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee that were investigating threats made against schools on Wednesday. Six threats were made against Cocke County schools, but after investigating, the Cocke County Sheriff’s office and the Department of Homeland Security found none of the threats were credible. While the sheriff’s office has a School Resource Officer in each school of the county, additional officers were brought in to help keep schools safe. The Newport Police Department also provided officers as well for Cocke County schools. The Cocke County Sheriff’s office says they will take each and every threat seriously.

In Sevier County, threats were made against 10 schools on Wednesday. Campbell, Claiborne, Anderson and Blount County also dealt with school threats. Knox County authorities arrested six students on Wednesday in association with making threats against schools. That makes nine students arrested in Knox County this week. Overall about 50 school threats have been investigated by law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee this week.

Earlier this year, the Tennessee State Legislature approved a measure that changed making a threat of mass violence against a school from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class E Felony.