DEADWOOD, S.D. – The Deadwood Police Department says it has seen a rise in false emergency reports, commonly known as “swatting” calls, and officials are warning about the impact these incidents have on public safety.
Police Chief Cory Shafer says the hoax calls often involve bomb threats, hostage situations, or reports of armed suspects and are designed to trigger a large law enforcement response. Since January, Deadwood police have responded to two bomb threats and at least three other swatting incidents involving weapons.
Shafer says the calls can tie up officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and emergency managers for hours, reducing the availability of responders for legitimate emergencies elsewhere in the community.
The chief says recent advances in technology, including internet-based phone numbers and artificial intelligence, have made the calls increasingly difficult to trace. Despite that challenge, officers continue to treat every threat as credible until proven otherwise.
Deadwood police are also expanding officer training to help identify common indicators of swatting calls while maintaining appropriate responses to protect residents and visitors.
Authorities say the trend is not unique to Deadwood and appears to be part of a growing national problem.
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