As law enforcement and school districts across Yuma County continue to investigate potential threats to schools, officials sought to instill more confidence in school safety among parents and community members at a community forum Thursday.

Representatives from police departments and school districts in Yuma, Somerton and San Luis met at Yuma City Hall after some local schools were closed and locked down following online news reports of possible school shootings.

Yuma Police Chief Thomas Garrity would not comment on whether there have been any credible threats or arrests related to the recent potential threats to a local school. But he and the others said Thursday that they investigate every potential threat 24/7 and only make public announcements when a potential threat leads to a school closure or lockdown.

Police Chief Garrity said Yuma police have received 250 reports of possible threats against schools this month alone. He said there has been a 170 percent increase in threats against schools in Arizona since the Sept. 4 shooting at a high school in Winder, Georgia, that left at least four people dead and nine others injured.

Officials say many local schools have School Resource Officers (SROs), which Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls said are funded in part by grants. The officers are highly trained and facilitate communication between schools, districts and police.

Henry Gonzalez, director of health and safety at YUHSD, said school safety is not just about the physical safety of students, teachers and staff, but must also consider the mental health of everyone involved.

Authorities urged parents to cooperate with them and monitor their children’s social media activities.

Garrity urged parents and guardians to report any threats and not simply share them, as this could cause unnecessary anxiety.

Laurie Doering, principal of the Crane Elementary School District in Yuma, advised parents to take away their children’s cell phones at night because some threats can be made, seen and passed on overnight.

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Stay with KAWC for more on this story and ongoing coverage of law enforcement and schools in Yuma County.