Bomb Threat Hoax

Supposedly, there was a bomb threat called into Sandusky Police yesterday, but it was ruled a hoax.

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/Law-Enforcement/2016/09/12/Bomb-thr...m&lp=2&p=1

There was one called into Six Flags America as well. They evacuated the park.

Bomb threats are almost never credible and only meant to induce panic. It makes absolutely no sense that someone would place bombs to kill people but then call police to warn people so they can live.

That's very true. So much so, that my freshman year of high school, after about the 7th bomb threat that month, they just sent us into the auditorium instead of outside.

When I was in high school we had two. Then they announced that any school hours spent outside would be made up after normal hours. Funny, we never had another one.

Here's a link to the audio of the threat. To me it just sounds like a stupid kid or teenager. The lisp might make him sound younger than he actually is, though.

500m radius pipe bombs? That's some serious explosives. I hope this prankster spends some time staring at a brick wall.

You can almost hear some level of disappointment in the guy's voice that he isn't getting any real reaction out of the dispatcher.

"This isn't anything like the movies!"

I work with O.E.M. where I live.

You have to treat any threat as if it is real.

Around here "SWAT'ing" has gotten popular.

If anyone doesn't know about it,someone calls in a report of "active shooter" or something similar to a random address.

Police have to respond with tactical units (SWAT).

The police are sent to an address,usually a home,where the people have no idea what's going on.

That can lead to all kinds of problems.

Most of the 'SWAT'ing " calls are made using game consoles.

That makes it virtually impossible to trace.

Surprised he didn't say something like "If the green train on Millennium Force drops below 70mph, I will detonate. If anyone tries to get off the train, I will detonate." And an AK-47, really? Is there a gun more known for jamming and not firing?

It does sound like a kid. Hope they find him, although chances are probably slim.

The fact that the caller only had one demand: "Do you understand?" was a pretty obvious attempt to stir up chaos. Usually there is some intent or demand when someone pulls a stunt like this. If someone simply wanted to kill people, they wouldn't be calling the police.

rpbobcat said:

Police have to respond with tactical units (SWAT).

The police are sent to an address,usually a home,where the people have no idea what's going on.

Regarding swating, there is no law saying the swat team has to be the first on scene. Also not all threats need the same response regardless of credibility. If someone says they are holding someone hostage, and the phone call comes in through an untraceable means, it is a bad idea to kick in the door without first acquiring some intelligence. People have died, both police and victims of swating, just because someone did not take a few seconds to use their binoculars to make sure they knew what they were running into.

I can see why the bomb threat in question was not taken seriously. Seven pipe bombs to destroy several hundred acres? Kill everyone in the park with solo with an AK-47? I am glad the local emergency services did not panic and give the maniac what he wanted.

Back in the early to mid-90's, when I worked in a couple of different municipalities, I was always struck by the care with which the police forces would treat every situation. Granted they were suburban forces, but I was surprised to hear a 7-year office say that he had never even drew his gun in public. He said that was a result of his training. That's one of the legitimate complaints people have about police forces these days... the perception, which is warranted, is that there's a shoot first, ask questions later mentality. Not only is that dangerous, and potentially immoral, but it skips the judicial process entirely. The story of the WV cop fired for not shooting a guy, because he used his training, sends a terrible message.

The point is, showing up with a SWAT team without any kind of preliminary assessment is cosmically stupid and dangerous.

Additionally, a few SWAT guys that I know are ex-military. That mentality and training stays with them.

Jeff said:

Granted they were suburban forces, but I was surprised to hear a 7-year office say that he had never even drew his gun in public.

Location, location, location... I know a guy who is a transit police officer in the DC metro area, and has only been on the job for a year. He's had to draw his gun around a dozen times in his first year.

It's a whole lot easier to never have to use your weapon in some locations and then there are others where EMS has to consider whether or not they need to start wearing protection or carrying for their own safety.

You guys are missing the point. Shooting first and asking questions later is immoral and wrong.

^Unless against birds or deer*

Both species deserve to be turned into tasty meals