Swatting Incident at Burnsview Secondary School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Swatting Incident at Burnsview Secondary School

Delta, BC – May 16, 2024 – Today at 11:55 a.m., the Delta Police Department (DPD) received a report of an individual with a firearm at Burnsview Secondary School. In response, the school administration was requested to initiate a lockdown and subsequent hold and secure protocol.

DPD officers arrived swiftly to assess the situation and ensure the safety of students and staff.  Officers determined that the report was false and there was no threat. This incident has been classified as a "swatting call."

Understanding Swatting:

Swatting involves making a false report of a critical incident to elicit an urgent and substantial police response.

Duty to Respond:

The preservation of life is the primary duty of law enforcement. All calls reporting potential threats are taken seriously and treated as genuine until verified otherwise. Consequently, a significant police presence is deployed to ensure safety.

Public Mischief Investigation:

Filing a false report is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, classified as mischief. The DPD has launched an investigation to identify the individual responsible for the swatting call.

Social Media:

We urge the public to avoid spreading unverified information on social media, as it can cause unnecessary alarm within the community.

Today’s swatting incident posed no real threat to public safety.

For further information, please contact:

A/Insp. James Sandberg

Public Affairs Manager

Delta Police Department

Email: [email protected]