Officer-Involved Shootings May Spark Threats Via Social Media

Louisiana State Police, and other law enforcement agencies, are closely monitoring social media scanning the sites for credible threats against the community and law enforcement.

The shooting of Alton Sterling has inflamed some members of the Baton Rouge community. But in the news environment that we live in the emotion has spread, via social media, to communities around the nation.

Emotional responses to the shooting have flooded social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. According to a press release, authorities have, so far, found "no credible threats to the public or the community."

“Law enforcement officials take these types of threats very seriously,” said Colonel Michael Edmonson, Louisiana State Police Superintendent. “When threats are made they can unnecessarily alarm the public and undermine the investigative process by diverting resources and attention away from the important task at hand.  The State Police, with our law enforcement partners, will remain vigilant at monitoring threats, determining their sources and legitimacy and if necessary providing appropriately measured responses."

Both Edmonson and East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux have teams that will immediately notify the public if any threat warrants action to be taken.

In the past, during officer-involved shooting incidents, multiple threats have circulated via the internet. These posts have been seen as a social media hoax and are determined to have originated from persons that were angry with the situation.