Police Ask Students, Parents to Report Suspicious Behavior

With area public schools back in session, the Las Cruces Police Department is reminding students and parents to report dangerous behavior, threatening social media posts or suspected criminal activity.

Police encourage students to expeditiously report their concerns to teachers or parents. They can also call 911 or use the STOPit app to share their concerns.

The STOPit app, used by Las Cruces Public Schools, is free and can be downloaded to most devices. It allows students to anonymously submit a report on illegal, dangerous or suspicious activity.

The Las Cruces Police Department is committed to investigating every threat made to a school and works closely with public school officials to help ensure the safety and security of students, faculty and staff.

In New Mexico, making any kind of threat to shoot or take a firearm to a school or public building; placing any person or group in fear of great bodily harm; preventing or interrupting the occupation or use of a public building; or causing law enforcement to respond to an emergency is considered a felony offense.

It’s also against the law to interfere with staff or employees of any public building, including schools.

State statute 30-20-13 specifically says, “No person shall willfully interfere with the educational process of any public or private school by committing, threatening to commit or inciting others to commit any act which would disrupt, impair, interfere with or obstruct the lawful mission, processes, procedures or functions of a public or private school.”

Similarly, making or verbalizing a bomb scare is against the law and is a felony offense.

Anyone who sees or receives a threatening social media post is asked to refrain from forwarding it to others, or reposting it, as doing so can cause unnecessary fear and widespread panic. Those who see content that suggests a threat are encouraged to screen save it and immediately contact law enforcement by calling 911.