PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco has a crucial message for parents, grandparents, and guardians: the safety of children is a top priority for both families and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.
In a recent statement, Sheriff Nocco emphasized that whether kids are at a playground or on school grounds, his team is dedicated to protecting them.
Over the past 24 hours, the Sheriff’s Office has responded to nine separate school threats, leading to two arrests. Nocco urged parents to have serious conversations with their children, explaining the potential consequences of making threats, even if they believe they are harmless.
“Children need to understand that making a threat or an offhand statement can be considered a crime,” Nocco said. “In Pasco County, we take every threat seriously, and negative actions will result in consequences, including arrests.”
This trend is not new. Last year, the Sheriff’s Office responded to more than 340 school threats, each treated with the utmost seriousness.
Read: Pasco Sheriff Addresses Circulating Social Media School Shooting Threats Tagged “Cypress Creek”
“As parents ourselves, we understand the fear of sending your child to school under these circumstances,” Nocco added.
He reassured the community that the Pasco Sheriff’s Office is committed to enforcing the law and maintaining safe schools. Nocco encouraged open communication between parents and their children and stressed that the Sheriff’s Office will continue to work alongside families to protect students.
“Please trust that we are working together to keep our schools safe,” Nocco concluded. “May God bless you, and let’s partner to ensure the safety of our children.”
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