Keokuk, IA – Kids who make bomb or shooting threats at a school can face both educational and criminal penalties.
Just this week, the Burlington School Board expelled 3 students in connection with several threats made at different school buildings.
2 will not be allowed back into the district until early 2008.
In the past 6 months, law enforcement agents have investigated threats within the Fort Madison school district, stopped a planned shooting spree at Central Lee High School, and found a gun that two Keokuk high school students brought to school.
Keokuk police chief Tom Crew says all of these incidents show that threats cannot be taken lightly in today's society.
He says criminal penalties come with any type of incident, even writing what you think is a joke on a school wall.
Crew says police departments launch full investigations into these types of incidents and many times push for maximum charges.
You can hear more with Keokuk Police Chief Tom Crew by clicking the audio link above.