On Thursday afternoon, Broken Bow Police and Choctaw Nation Tribal Police questioned a juvenile at Broken Bow High School who is suspected of being the perpetrator of recent bomb threats at the school. The threats were received anonymously through Protect OK, a mobile software application designed to enhance safety and security for residents of Oklahoma. The investigation was a joint effort between Broken Bow Schools administration and staff, Broken Bow Police Department, Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad. The juvenile suspect has admitted to making the threats and officials believe they have identified the sole perpetrator of these crimes, bringing closure to this investigation.
Broken Bow High School and Rector Johnson Middle School were evacuated on two separate occasions in the past week due to these threats. School Administrators reiterated today that their highest priority is the safety of their students, faculty and staff, and that they will continue taking threats of this nature very seriously. "We will act with an abundance of caution to keep our Savage family safe", said Carla Ellisor, Superintendent of Broken Bow Schools. "We will relentlessly pursue those who make threats of violence towards us, or who jeopardize our safety and security by creating chaos and disruption in our daily educational activities", she continued.
The Protect OK application's primary intention is to provide users with a direct line to emergency services, enabling them to report crimes or suspicious activities quickly and efficiently. The app aims to foster community engagement by encouraging users to share information and stay informed about local safety issues. When residents know and look out for each other, it creates an environment that discourages criminal activity.
Superintendent Ellisor says that the school will make a renewed effort to teach students how to quickly and properly report suspicious activity at the schools and encourages parents and family members to talk with their students about the seriousness of these types of threats.
Ms. Ellisor expressed her "most sincere gratitude" for the patience and cooperation shown during this ordeal by the students, parents, faculty and staff. "We understand how upsetting and emotionally taxing these events are for everyone", she said. "Our school district is like an extended family and we are so proud of how our family rallies together in times like these. We are also very thankful to our law enforcement officers for their quick response and thorough investigation into these threats. It really was a team effort."