Police Will Continue Patrolling Decatur Schools Till Week's End

DECATUR, GA -- Police will continue patrolling Decatur city schools throughout the rest of week in the wake of Tuesday's threats that resulted in the entire system being locked down for virtually the entire school day. Police are said they are continuing to investigate reports of a bomb threat and threats of gun violence made against three elementary schools: Glennwood, Oakhurst and Winnona Park. School officials, along with Decatur and DeKalb County police, as well as the DeKalb sheriff’s office personnel responded to the threats.

"We are actively investigating these threats and looking at any similarities between today’s threats and similar incidents that have recently occurred in the metro Atlanta area," according to a statement from Decatur police Tuesday night. "While we found no evidence to substantiate today’s threats, we must and will take any and all threats to the schools, your children and our community seriously and investigate such threats thoroughly. We have to look at all of the possibilities and follow up on any potential leads to try to determine if threats are legitimate, if they are pranks or “Swatting” and to find the source or origin.

"We understand that threats made against schools, against children are terrifying," the statement said. "Many of the officers serving Decatur are also parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. We understand that school lockdowns, alerts, seeing your child’s school on the news and seeing news helicopters hovering overhead is alarming and that parents feel helpless and vulnerable. The threats are doing exactly what they are intended to do. They are instilling fear and provoking panic and anxiety. Please know that we will run into the schools and to your children to keep them safe.

SEE ALSO: Decatur School Threats Cancel After School Plans, Early Checkouts

"Officers will be patrolling the schools throughout the city through the end of this week. We will re-evaluate after investigators have an opportunity to follow up on potential leads."

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