Graffiti threat at St. Albert high school being investigated by RCMP

RCMP continue to investigate what police are calling an "obscure" threat made last week against a staff member at Paul Kane High School in St. Albert.

"A balanced approach is always the difficult one to manage," Insp. Ken Foster said Monday."Do you under-react or overreact?

"Any threats have to be taken seriously, whether they're believed to be a hoax or not."

Graffiti was found in a washroom at the high school on Feb. 17. Police were notified two days later.

Because thethreat referenced Feb. 22, there was a heavy police presence at the school on Monday.

"We have sufficient resources there to manage any potential threat," he said.

RCMP are not saying whetherthey will be at the school beyond one day.

"We will be directed and guided by our intelligence and investigative processes that are active and ongoing throughout the day," Foster said.

Police won't sayif they have made progress in determining who wrote the graffiti.

The school emailed a letter to parents on Sunday explaining the situation and the police presence. The letter asked parents to speak with their children and encourage them to come forwardif they have information that may be helpful to the investigation.

Such conversations are important, Foster said.

"What may be a joke or a hoax, or if you're angry with a teacher, putting words, or saying things or doing certain actions have serious ramifications," he said.

Often such threats end up being empty, Foster said. But they take police resources to investigate, he said, and take focus away from learning and shake people's confidence in their safety.