Loudoun County Families,
The last couple of weeks have been very tense and emotional for all of us in Loudoun County, particularly our students, staff, and families. We grieve for all families and communities nationwide that have been affected by senseless violence in schools, where children should always feel safe and cared for.
As representatives of the Loudoun County Public Schools, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, Purcellville Police Department, and the Middleburg Police Department we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all students, staff, and community members. We felt it was important for us to come together and share with you what we know, what we are doing to keep our schools safe, and what we are asking of our students and parents. It is only by working together that we will make a significant impact on this problem and keep our community safe and secure.
First and foremost, your child’s safety and security are our number one concern. LCPS and our public safety partners would never ask you to send your student to school if we didn’t feel the school was safe. Oftentimes, these online posts are created from areas outside of our region and are then reposted and shared. Members of the law enforcement community have worked tirelessly over the last few days tracing messages, speaking to witnesses, and running down leads. At this point, we have no credible threats to any specific LCPS school.
Any threat, regardless of intent, is treated with the utmost seriousness. Threats involving school shootings or violence, whether made as a joke or in passing, will be investigated thoroughly. Even if the person making the threat believes it to be a harmless prank, these actions have significant consequences.
The consequences of making such threats include:
Criminal Charges: Individuals making threats, even in jest, may face serious criminal charges, which can lead to arrest and prosecution.
School Disciplinary Action: In addition to legal consequences, students who make threats will face severe disciplinary actions from the school, which may include suspension or expulsion.
Long-Term Impact: Making threats, even jokingly, can affect a student’s future, including their ability to attend college, gain employment, or participate in other opportunities.
We implore you to please sit down with your children and talk about the seriousness of the words they use and the things they share on social media about violence in schools. Just like when we were kids and we learned that you can't yell "fire" or "bomb" in a movie theater, in today's world, they simply cannot post or say things that even suggest an act of violence as the consequences could be severe.
Working together, we will continue to do everything in our power to keep our students and staff safe, but this effort begins at home with the tough conversations we’re asking you to have.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Aaron Spence, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Loudoun County Public Schools
Mike Chapman
Sheriff, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
Thea Pirnat
Chief of Police, Leesburg Police Department
Barry Dufek
Chief of Police, Purcellville Police Department
Shaun Jones
Chief of Police, Middleburg Police Department