LIHU‘E— When the fourth bomb threat in less than two weeks to strike a Kaua‘i school was discovered Tuesday morning at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, school officials evacuated students and called police.
They then planned an assembly. It was the second time in less than 24 hours that the middle school had received a bomb threat.
School superintendent Bill Arakaki said he and fellow educators wanted students to realize that threats rise beyond school-boy pranks. They waste police resources, interrupt student learning and scare parents.
“This is not a joke, and they shouldn’t be writing any kind of note in this matter,” Arakaki said before the assembly. “We need to take these precautions, (but) this is a terrible disturbance. It’s impacting students’ education.”
The Kaua‘i Police Department has since detained two students from the middle school in connection with Tuesday’s incident. KPD Detective Bernard Purisima said investigators turned to the 11- and 13-year-old students after interviewing their schoolmates.
They were later released to their parents.
KPD Assistant Chief Roy Asher said police recognize similarities between Tuesday’s incident and another hoax found Monday afternoon at the school. However, they said they cannot confirm they’re related or if a copycat is involved. Both threats were hand-written notes; Monday’s threat was discovered in a bathroom and Tuesday’s threat in a planter box.
Asher and others officers emphasized they also see no connection between the middle school hoaxes and graffitied bomb threats discovered at Kaua‘i High School on Feb. 17 and Feb. 23.
The cost of hoaxes
Despite the police saying they don’t see a connection between the bomb threats at KHS and CKMS, the incidents share similar consequences.
“We recognize the severity of this. We don’t take it lightly,” Asher said. “It’s a disruption to the Department of Education as well as to our normal police operations.
“It’s not where we want to spend our resources and manpower when it’s a hoax.”
KPD Capt. Michael Contrades said community safety, especially when children are involved, is the department’s highest priority. However, empty threats steal police resources from others who need them.
For each threat, 15 to 20 officers — depending on the school — were taken from other duties or called in early to secure the campus, while detectives from KPD’s Investigative Services Bureau came to help the investigation. No cost analysis was available at press time, but Contrades said the combined threats cost the department thousands of dollars.
“Just as worrisome, you take kids out of school,” Contrades said. “A lot of parents were concerned, and rightfully so.”
Assistant Chief Ale Quibilan added that it backed up traffic, as police had to close off streets in many of the cases, which in turn hurt businesses.
“It’s more than the little circle of students on campus,” Quibilan said.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice report “Bomb Threats in Schools,” from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Criminal Justice Professor Graeme R. Newman writes that the potential for serious injury and damage turns even an empty threat into a serious incident.
“Thus, even though some 90 percent of bomb threats in schools may turn out to be pranks, each threat must be taken seriously and acted upon immediately,” Newman wrote. “Many school districts report losses in excess of $250,000 because of school closings and costs of bomb search squads. School districts are increasingly requiring schools to make up days lost due to bomb threats.”
In the second threat found Feb. 23 at Kaua‘i High School, students were asked not to attend class for the day.
Motives?
Newman notes the reason people leave bomb threats is unknown.
However, “the immediate, disruptive action it causes is surely part of the reason,” Newman states. “There are many supposed motives for bomb threats, among them: humor, self assertion, anger, manipulation, aggression, hate and devaluation, omnipotence, fantasy, psychotic distortion, ideology, retaliation …”
An arrest can come with a stricter penalty than a suspension or expulsion. According to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, making a bomb threat is classified as first-degree terroristic threatening. The class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.
“Bomb Threats in Schools” also states that making a false bomb threat is a federal offense with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine or both. The penalty also applies to juvenile offenders, but most underage culprits are prosecuted under local and state laws.
Asher said police and school officials are working to prevent future hoaxes. Detectives will provide educators with training and best practices to mitigate this type of incident.
Call Purisima at 241-1682, Police Dispatch at 241-1711, or Crime Stoppers at 241-1887 to provide additional information related to the threats.
• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@kauaipubco.com.
