A threat posted on Snapchat late Wednesday prompted Ruidoso School Supt. George Bickert to request beefed up security at Ruidoso High School and Ruidoso Middle School Thursday and Friday.Bickert notified parents through the municipal school Facebook that the district and the Ruidoso Police Department received what appeared to be a social media message that "copycats the threat message posted regarding Rio Rancho Schools Wednesday. However, we are still treating the message with all seriousness."
Parents also received automated calls about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, telling them about the threat that apparently stated "Gonna Pop a few in Doso HS & MS."
Ruidoso Police Chief Darren Hooker just left a meeting with Bickert when he was interviewed at the Ruidoso News Thursday. The two men jointly released a letter to parents and the Ruidoso community acknowledging that most had heard through various sources about the threat and that copycat versions "are making their way across New Mexico and other states."
"Please know that multiple local law enforcement agencies here, led by RPD Chief Hooker, are actively involved in tracking down the originator(s) and sharers of these messages.," the letter stated. "Once found, charges will be filed similar to the arrest made this morning of a student in Belen."
While the investigation proceeds, the schools in Ruidoso will remain open, but will have additional security at each site to assure students are safe, Bickert and Hooker wrote.
The superintendent thanked all of the law enforcement agencies that came together to provide the extra security. Hooker said those agencies were his department, the Ruidoso Downs Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department.
"Everything we've got is that this is a copycat from the original post that went out Tuesday afternoon or evening targeting the Rio Rancho school system," Hooker said. "What we believe to have happened is that someone, and we're trying to find out who, took the original post and altered it. We've visited with numerous kids at the middle school and high school today. They say they shared it, but that's all they did. We haven't found that mysterious person who may have changed it from Rio Rancho to Doso high school and middle school."
When things began ramping up Wednesday evening, the automated call was issued by the school district, but apparently went only to parents, not faculty and others, Hooker said.
"So there was some confusion," he said. "What we did this morning was have law enforcement at every one of our schools. Ruidoso Downs was at Nob Hill, the sheriff's department and Ruidoso police at the others, including White Mountain Elementary and Sierra Vista Primary. It's our intent to do the same thing Friday."
Some people may call the extra security a "knee jerk reaction," he said. "But we are taking it seriously and we want our students and faculty and parents to know they will be as safe as we can possible make them. I was asked last night if my kids were going to school and the answer is yes, and my wife is going to work. I have an eighth grader at school, my wife is principal at the middle school and my daughter is a junior at high school. When someone asks me if we are safe. Yes, as best we can be."
He wrote that the police are investigating and will have an increased presence at both schools Thursday "to assure a safe and orderly start to the school day."
He thanked parents and others for their support in sharing information about any threat to the safety of the students and schools.