Lyon County sheriff addresses recent school incidents

Lyon County Sheriff Brent White addressed incidents that have taken place in the Lyon County school system recently.

White took to social media to address the community with a message he said was for parents and family members of school kids.

White praised the "fantastic school district" in Lyon County before addressing a few incidents over the last few weeks in which he said some students have made bad choices, resulting in consequences for their actions. 

One involved a 16-year-old high school student who allegedly made threats to bring a bomb and blow up the school. 

White said those kind of threats are not taken lightly, and "we don’t speculate on whether the student really meant it or not." He added that if a crime of this nature has been committed, the person will be charged and likely detained.

White also praised students who speak up when they hear or see something that may affect their safety. He also ended his statement by praising school resource officer Deputy Jason Young, the Lyon County School District, and the students who he said "stepped up to ensure our school campus remains a safe and caring place to receive an education."


Sheriff White's full statement:

Parents and family members of our school kids, this message is for you. We have a fantastic school district in Lyon County! We have faculty and staff who genuinely care about their students and are preparing them for life’s challenges.  We have outstanding students and I am not just speaking about the honor roll or our great athletes. 
Unfortunately we’ve had a few incidents (3 to be exact) over the last few days and weeks where some of our students have made bad choices which have resulted in consequences for their actions. 
When a child makes a threat which could result in serious physical injury or death, we don’t speculate on whether they really meant it or not. We also don’t take someone’s word without investigating further and corroborating what we have learned. If a crime of this nature has been committed, the person will be charged and likely detained in a juvenile detention facility (if under 18 years of age) or a county jail (if 18 or older).
Most students know if they see something or hear something which affects the safety of our school, they need to say something immediately to a deputy, school staff member, family member, and etc. Our students need to know this isn’t snitching. It may be a cry for help by a fellow student who has been abused, neglected, bullied, or ostracized. 
Our first priority is keeping our schools safe. Our next priority is getting the person who is threatening harm to others, the mental health resources they need to help them get better.
I want to praise our SRO Deputy Jason Young for his tenacity over the last several weeks, the administrators of the Lyon County School District, and the students who have stepped up to ensure our school campus remains a safe and caring place to receive an education. Thank you for taking the time to read this. It is our honor to serve you.

Sheriff Brent White