JAMES CITY COUNTY — With the start of a new school year, here are some safety tips to help parents and children navigate both in-person and digital threats.
Ensuring the safety of schools is a top priority for James City County (JCC) Police Department, but they say it is a collective effort.
The community should be vigilant and play an active role in maintaining safety by taking proactive action, adhering to laws, educating children, and letting local authorities know right away when threats arise.
Any potential danger — a communicated threat, a concerning social media post, or anything else that raises red flags — should be reported immediately.
Communication is key. Talk with children about physical and digital safety.
Bullying, both in person and online, can pose a threat. Parents should understand and explain what bullying is to their children so that it can be recognized and mitigated.
Some social media platforms allow messages to disappear, so taking screenshots or preserving evidence is important.
Time is of the essence in these situations, and every threat is taken seriously.
JCC School Resource Unit Supervisor, Sgt. Kurt Dykstra, emphasizes, “All threats are
credible until proven otherwise, and we are not taking any chances. If you ever feel that
your student’s or school’s safety is at risk, let us know.”
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline has a powerful resource available — Take It Down. It is a free service to remove or hinder the circulation of sexually explicit content involving minors.
Take It Down is for those who have images or videos of themselves nude, partially nude, or in sexually explicit situations taken when they were under the age of 18 that they believe have been or will be shared online.
Those 18 years old or older can get help at stopncii.org.
Dykstra notes, “We receive reports of children being coerced or tricked into sharing explicit images or harmful information far too often. It’s imperative to educate our youth about these dangers and prevent them from being shared in the first place. If situations arise, we need to know as soon as possible.”
Children should be encouraged to seek support from their schools and School Resource Officers if they have concerns. Listen to their struggles, empower them, and take action if they are struggling emotionally or mentally. If you suspect other students are being bullied or abused, speak up — they might not feel they have a voice.
The new school year brings excitement, stress, and unpredictability. Law enforcement officers stress that they are committed to make it safe.
For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call your local law enforcement agency. Tips can also submitted anonymously at P3Tips.com. Students are encouraged to reach out to their School Resource Officers for support.
