ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Police Chief John Mina has asked city council to give his officers one more tool to fight school violence: by adding threats on social media to the ordinance defining what is disorderly conduct.
A person would be found guilty of a misdemeanor under the city law, but state lawmakers are expected to make such behavior a felony in Florida later this year, Mina explained.
While council passed the change on First Reading, Commissioner Regina Hill said she’s uncomfortable with what she sees as adversely affecting minorities in schools.
“I’m concerned that 8-year-olds and 9-year-olds in schools that make subtle threats get a felony and we ruin their lives, for the rest of their lives, because they did something childish and immature.”
Mina said that threats against schools have gone up since the shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Today at @citybeautiful council, a first read will happen on adjustments to city ordinance on disorderly conduct to close loophole which will allow law enforcement to make arrests in general threats by social media, other avenues. pic.twitter.com/yY0bmsddtH
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) February 26, 2018
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