SAGINAW -- While schools in Birch Run and Saginaw Township cancelled classes Friday amidst potential threats of violence, Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel says his department is ramping up patrols at other area schools.
Parents will see black patrol cars at area schools and a stronger police presence.
Federspiel said he'll be doubling his police force and wants families to know schools will be safe, in light of recent rumors and threats.
Earlier Thursday, K9 units from the Saginaw Co. Sheriff’s department assisted Midland County authorities in investigating a bomb threat at Meridian High School in Sanford. The Meridian Public Schools superintendent has said the only thing that could cancel classes Friday is the weather.
Federspiel said pranks will be taken seriously and he will investigate and prosecute if he needs to.
“If the parents would talk to children and explain to them the dangers of calling in a prank and how that will affect everyone. It may affect someone's life if we can't get to someone who needs us in an emergency and were trying to sweep a school district for explosives. That's dangerous,” Federspiel said.
