Social media post prompts extra security at Waggener and Spencer County high schools - Courier Journal

February 26, 2019 at 01:19AM

A social media post that was circulating Monday prompted an increased police presence at Waggener and Spencer County high schools.

Chuck Abell, the assistant superintendent of Spencer County Schools, said officials were made aware Monday morning of an "indirect" threat against the school made on Facebook from what appeared to be a former student.

Abell said the comments on the post also appeared to implicate Waggener High School, which is in Jefferson County. He could not provide a copy of the post to the Courier Journal.

"We believe this was an irresponsible use of social media that has generated fear and worry in the community," Abell said. "Spencer County Schools always errs on the side of safety and has had a substantial increase in law enforcement officers in the building, as they continue to investigate."

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Renee Murphy, a spokeswoman for Jefferson County Public Schools, confirmed that the district was aware of "some kind of social media threat that may have been related to Waggener."

St. Matthews Police were at the school Monday morning as a precaution, she said, but the school is operating as normal. The nature of the alleged threat is "under investigation," Murphy said. She declined to provide more details.

A Kentucky State Police spokesman, Trooper Bernie Napier, confirmed that police received a phone call about a threat seen on social media. He said KSP was investigating, had troopers at Spencer County High School and had contacted St. Matthews Police about the potential Waggener threat.

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Some Spencer County parents made the decision to pull their students from school, but a majority of students are still in class, Abell said Monday.

Abell praised the law enforcement officers at the school, adding they were "very diligent" in their response.

This story may be updated.

Allison Ross contributed reporting. Darcy Costello: 502-582-4834; dcostello@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @dctello. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/darcyc.

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