Distinguished Members of the Courts of Justice - Criminal Committee,
Good afternoon. My name is Chris Perkins, retired Roanoke Police Chief and current Chief Operations Officer for Roanoke City Public Schools. I am here to urge you to support HB 2546, which allows law enforcement to compel social media and internet providers to provide real-time information in exigent circumstances involving threats of violence against schools, churches, daycares, or hospitals.
First and foremost, the safety of our citizens, especially our most vulnerable populations, is paramount. In today's digital age, threats often emerge online. By providing law enforcement with real-time access to crucial information, we can prevent these threats from becoming tragic events.
Current processes for obtaining information are too slow. In situations where every second counts, delays can lead to dire consequences. Recent threats have led to school closures and widespread panic among parents, further highlighting the need for swift action.
This legislation includes constitutional safeguards to balance public safety and individual privacy rights. With judicial oversight, we ensure responsible use of this authority in genuine exigent circumstances.
As an example, consider the fear and panic of staff, students, and parents during an actual event in February 2024. A series of social media threats targeting several schools were reported, leading to an investigation by the Roanoke Police Department (RPD) and Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS), and the closing of all schools for two days.
The first threat was reported at 5:15 PM on February 21, 2024, followed by a request for information to social media companies at 6:21 PM. Subsequent threats were reported throughout the evening, prompting further requests for user data from social media companies.
Additional threats to rape and murder a specific teacher and the mass murder of students were reported on social media on February 22 and 23, 2024, with RCPS receiving numerous notifications. RPD eventually tracked the threats to a student, who was taken into custody and charged on February 23, 2024, a full two days after the original social media threat.
In conclusion, by supporting HB 2546, we empower our law enforcement agencies to protect our communities more effectively. I urge you to prioritize the safety of our citizens and support this critical measure.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Distinguished Members of the Courts of Justice - Criminal Committee, Good afternoon. My name is Chris Perkins, retired Roanoke Police Chief and current Chief Operations Officer for Roanoke City Public Schools. I am here to urge you to support HB 2546, which allows law enforcement to compel social media and internet providers to provide real-time information in exigent circumstances involving threats of violence against schools, churches, daycares, or hospitals. First and foremost, the safety of our citizens, especially our most vulnerable populations, is paramount. In today's digital age, threats often emerge online. By providing law enforcement with real-time access to crucial information, we can prevent these threats from becoming tragic events. Current processes for obtaining information are too slow. In situations where every second counts, delays can lead to dire consequences. Recent threats have led to school closures and widespread panic among parents, further highlighting the need for swift action. This legislation includes constitutional safeguards to balance public safety and individual privacy rights. With judicial oversight, we ensure responsible use of this authority in genuine exigent circumstances. As an example, consider the fear and panic of staff, students, and parents during an actual event in February 2024. A series of social media threats targeting several schools were reported, leading to an investigation by the Roanoke Police Department (RPD) and Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS), and the closing of all schools for two days. The first threat was reported at 5:15 PM on February 21, 2024, followed by a request for information to social media companies at 6:21 PM. Subsequent threats were reported throughout the evening, prompting further requests for user data from social media companies. Additional threats to rape and murder a specific teacher and the mass murder of students were reported on social media on February 22 and 23, 2024, with RCPS receiving numerous notifications. RPD eventually tracked the threats to a student, who was taken into custody and charged on February 23, 2024, a full two days after the original social media threat. In conclusion, by supporting HB 2546, we empower our law enforcement agencies to protect our communities more effectively. I urge you to prioritize the safety of our citizens and support this critical measure. Thank you for your time and consideration.