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Maybrook police report uptick in 'swatting' calls; social-media post helped locate missing person
Summary
Police Chief Dennis Barnett reported multiple 'swatting' calls in recent weeks that required full responses and credited the mayor's social-media post with helping find a missing person within 10 minutes.
Chief Dennis Barnett told trustees that the Maybrook Police Department has responded to several recent "swatting" calls — hoax emergency reports placed from burner phones that compel officers to treat them as real. "It's where somebody called with a burner phone, saying that someone was getting stabbed, another, a person killed their mother, then shot themselves," Barnett said, noting officers must respond as if the threats are credible.
Barnett also reported a missing-person case where the Mayor’s social-media post aided in locating the individual within 10 minutes. He provided updates on department personnel and training, including a sergeant promotion and upcoming certifications for water-utility staff.
