GENERAL ORDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OPERATIONS
TITLE: SCHOOL THREATS INVESTIGATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
GENERAL ORDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OPERATIONS
TITLE: SCHOOL THREATS INVESTIGATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
SCHOOL THREATS INVESTIGATIONS
607.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy is intended to provide guidelines for any incidents/offenses related to any threats of violence reported by members of the Clay County School System. These threats will be investigated by the Police Department Criminal Investigations Division.
607.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Police Department to promote a safe and orderly environment in the Clay County School System. Officers and Investigators from the Police Department work directly with the Clay County School System to ensure that any incidents/offenses related to threats of violence are documented and investigated thoroughly.
607.3 RESPONDING OFFICER DUTIES
Unless otherwise noted, the duties of the responding Officer shall include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Protect the lives of the students, faculty, and administrators by maintaining the security of the school.
This may include requesting additional Officers to respond to the school.
(b) Responding Officer(s) will make every attempt to encourage the removal, safekeeping, and/or securing of any firearms or other related weapons that the individual(s) may have access to.
(c) The responding Officer shall notify the on-duty patrol supervisor of the report and circumstances related to the situation.
(d) The officer will attempt to make in-person contact with all parties involved.
(e) An initial report will be taken by the responding officer upon receiving the call for service.
(f) The responding officer shall begin to gather all related school documentation, evidence, witness / suspect statements, and any available video/audio recordings related to the incident(s) when and if the situation and time permits.
(g) The officer will assist the CID investigator as requested.
607.4 ON-DUTY SUPERVISOR
The on-duty Supervisor shall notify the Chief of Police of the threat and relay any information given to them by the responding officer.
The on-duty Supervisor should respond to the school as needed or as the situation dictates.
607.5 RESPONDING INVESTIGATOR(S)
The Investigator(s) will respond to the school as soon as possible. Upon arrival on the scene:
(a) Investigator(s) will attempt to make in-person contact with all parties involved.
(b) The Investigator(s) shall attempt to encourage the removal, safekeeping, and/or securing of any firearms or other related weapons that the individual(s) may have access to if the responding officer has not.
(c) If the responding Officer has not already gathered all related school documentation, evidence, witness / suspect statements, and any available video/audio recordings related to the incident(s) before their arrival, then the Investigator shall start the process or if feasible, direct the Officer or another Investigator to do so.
(d) As dictated by situational circumstances, will notify and consult with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and/or the Clay County Juvenile Probation Office.
Should a threat of violence be directed toward students, the facility, the public, and/or members of the Clay County School System, an assessment of the individual(s) mental state, behavior/attitude, and environment will be conducted and evaluated.
607.5.1 INVESTIGATIVE FOLLOW-UP
Upon completing the preliminary investigation, the assigned investigator will:
(a) contact the Clay County School Systems "Student Services Coordinator" and communicate the investigation findings to assist/aid school administrative personnel in determining any course of action deemed necessary.
(b) follow up with the Student Services Coordinator to determine the school's intent to prosecute and/or any course of action to be taken by the school system in the matter, which will then be supplemented and included in the case file.
Should the Alabama Department of Human Resources and/or the Clay County Juvenile Probation Office be involved in the investigation, the assigned Investigator will follow up with the agency to determine their course of action, which will then be supplemented and included in the case file.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.