LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Multiple schools in Louisville were cleared by Louisville Metro Police after fake calls claiming active aggressors on Wednesday morning.

Jefferson County Public Schools said duPont Manual High School, Noe Middle School and Olmsted Academy North were on heightened security levels on Wednesday morning. duPont Manual and Olmsted Academy were the targets of "swatting" calls.

Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Steve Healey said a person called claiming to be a victim on the second floor of an active shooter situation at Manual. 

"LMPD is not going to compromise our response to these calls," Healey said. "It's very traumatic for students, the teachers in the schools and parents."

Noe Middle School had increased security because of its shared campus with Manual, according to JCPS.

"Noe Middle School temporarily increased security levels after learning about a report of an active aggressor at Manual High School," Noe Middle School Principal Jennifer Cave said in a letter to parents. "JCPS Police and LMPD immediately responded. After a thorough search of Manual's building, it was confirmed the call was a hoax and students and staff were not in danger."

A short time later, LMPD also responded to a report of an active aggressor at Olmsted Academy North School. But there was no active aggressor at Olmsted Academy. 

The schools were cleared and JCPS said all students and staff were safe.

Carolyn Callahan, chief of communications for JCPS, said safety procedures went off as planned during the false threat. LMPD responded to the schools within minutes of the calls.

"It's really a shame someone would do something like this, not only does it cause trauma and stress for students, but it's another disruption that takes away from learning," Callahan said. "We know this caused a lot of stress for students, families and staff members."

Callahan said the school district has mental health resources available for students to talk about the incidents on Wednesday.

"I'm sure a lot of kids are anxious and nervous," Callahan said. "We want kids to feel safe and secure."

While the threats turned out to be fake, students and families could still be dealing with very real increased anxiety and worry.

"When incidences like what occurred in Louisville today happen, it reminds students and teachers and staff and parents that it's possible those things might occur, especially in a community that did experience a mass shooting in our community this year," said Dr. Katy Hopkins.

Hopkins is a child and adolescent psychologist with Norton Children's Medical Group. She said if your child was at one of the schools impacted, or even if they don't attend and heard about what happened, talk to them about what they know.

Then, she said, parents should clarify the facts. Hopkins said helping kids differentiate fact from rumor helps to ease anxiety, worry and makes them feel more in control.

Ray Disson has a daughter who attends duPont Manual. He said his heart was pounding when he thought there was an active aggressor at his daughter's school.

"You see this on TV but you never think it'll happen here," Dison said. "The hoaxes and the whole... don't play like that. Because it can be really serious, and when something real happens it's not taken as seriously as it needs to be."

There were other "swatting" calls around the region.

"Other cities to include Evansville, Lexington and Cincy are all having apparent SWATTING calls currently," LMPD posted on Wednesday morning.

Swatting is an illegal practice of falsely reporting life-threatening emergencies at a person's home, causing heavily armed police, and sometimes SWAT teams, to rush to the scene. In some cases, the situation can turn deadly.

Healey said fake calls cause responses that take a "huge amount resources" for police. He estimated around 40 officers responded to Olmsted Academy. 

"When you have a response like that, you're taking resources away from people who need assistance," Healey said. "It's illegal, it's like pulling a fire alarm." 

Healey said no suspects have been identified, but police are working to identify who made the calls.

Last year, Kentucky legislators passed House Bill 48, which makes falsely reporting an incident that results in emergency response a Class D felony. People convicted of Class D felonies in Kentucky face one to five years of imprisonment.

"The Jefferson County Teachers Association is shocked and saddened by the trend of swatting schools," Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) said in a statement. "We applaud the fast responses by JCPS and LMPD to ensure student and staff were physically safe. The terror created by these kinds of hoaxes causes real trauma for our students and educators who live with the constant fear of school shootings. This is domestic terrorism. Our students deserve better."

More area crime stories: 

Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.