WARREN, Mich. – Warren police say the department has fielded six alleged “swatting” calls in the past couple of weeks, each reporting violent crimes that required a heavy police response.
Officials describe the calls as false reports made to prompt an armed response to homes or businesses.
Swatting is the deliberate, false reporting of a violent incident to 911 to provoke a large police or SWAT response. The practice can put residents and responding officers at risk and, according to officials, can cost police departments thousands of dollars per incident.
Lt. John Gajewski, the department’s public information officer, joined the program to discuss the spike and the department’s concerns. Crime and safety expert Darnell Blackburn, a former police officer, also joined the discussion to explain how dispatch and patrol units respond to those calls.
You can watch the full interviews at the beginning of this article.