Des Moines, Iowa — People who falsely report a shooting or other incident that would require a massive police response could be charged with a felony if the governor approves a bill that’s cleared the legislature.
Representative Zach Dieken of Granville says during the last school year there were 89 of these false reports about non-existent threats in school districts.
These kind of incidents are sometimes called “SWATTING” — a reference to “Special Weapons and Tactics” or SWAT teams.
Dieken says in addition to law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs waste time and resources responding to something that turns out to be nothing. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously.
