Salute to Service: Teaming up to fight school cyber threat - KPAX.com | Continuous News | Missoula & Western Montana
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KALISPELL - Several separate law enforcement agencies recently worked with the FBI, the NSA, and other international agencies to bring safety to the Flathead Valley after a series of cyber threats that closed all schools in the county.
“Rarely do we come together in a major case like this that imminently affects all of us or at least there are threats to all of our schools in the county and the three incorporated cities,” Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said.
A wave of cyber threats to multiple schools across the Flathead prompted the Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls police departments to work with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to find out if there was any physical threat to students at these schools.
The separate police departments do work together sometimes but it is rare that they are forced to work this closely on a case.
“We’re very fortunate we have a good working relationship, we know each other well, but it’s instances like this when that working relationship gets put to a test,” Sheriff Curry said.
Not only did the three cities departments relationship help in this case but the relationship with the FBI as well.
“We do have a great working relationship with the FBI. They really stepped up to the plate in this case as well. So, it’s great, and the foundation we build for those relationships really do pay off in instances like this,” Sheriff Curry told MTN News.
Once the physical threat was determined to be non-existent, Flathead Valley Superintendent Jack Eggensperger says that law enforcement did incredible work bringing normalcy back to the school year.
“It was really a great opportunity for pulling everybody together. Law enforcement did a fantastic job and I just can’t thank them enough for all that they did,” Eggensperger said.
The investigation is now being looked at as an extortion case and law enforcement is still working to find the people sending these threats.
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