Dedicated Investigator To Monitor Williamson School Threats

FRANKLIN, TN -- A dedicated sheriff's department officer will now investigate threats against Williamson County schools.

Sheriff Jeff Long told The Tennessean threats against the county's schools grew following the deadly Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. in February. Long said there are threats on a weekly basis with one already under investigation for the new school year starting next month.

Jessica Richards, the former school resource officer at Heritage Middle, will now serve in the schools threat position, which the county commission approved via a $146,254 funding request. Richards has served 16 years inside the school district.

Heretofore, investigator Lee Eaves spearheaded schools-related investigations and will continue to do so along with Richards, but Long told the paper the new position, with its school focus, should both help ease parents' minds and be more effective at fighting threats. Richards will also investigate thefts from the schools.

The sheriff's office is also implementing software which monitors social media for keywords - including the names of Williamson County and Franklin Special School District schools - that often precede threats. Previously, the department had to monitor social media manually.

The sheriff's department arrested at least two juveniles earlier this year - one after the Parkland shooting in February and another in April - for threats.

See The Tennessean's full report.

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