Increased Police Presence In Mendham Over TikTok Threat Challenge

MENDHAM, NJ — Though Mendham Township’s Police Department says there is “no credible threat” in New Jersey, Morris County or any schools in their district, they plan to have more officers at the township’s school on Friday, in response to a TikTok challenge.

Schools throughout the country have been on high alert over the TikTok challenge that suggests students “threaten gun violence at their schools on Friday, Dec. 17," according to a Patch report.

RELATED: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert

Mendham Police addressed the TikTok challenge on Twitter early Thursday evening.

“There have been a number of communications that have gone out cross districts statewide regarding threat that was posted nationally on one of the social media apps,” the police department wrote.

“Currently, there is no credible threat to New Jersey, Morris County or any school in our district,” Mendham Police indicated.

In a joint statement between the Morris County Sheriff, Prosecutor's Office and President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association on Friday afternoon, they too confirmed there was "no credible threat" against Morris County Schools.

Mendham Township police added a second part to their Thursday night post, specifying that “out of an abundance of caution, we will have an increased presence at our schools tomorrow [Friday, Dec. 17].”

Out of an abundance of caution we will have an increased presence at our schools tomorrow and will communicate along with our district and twp any issues or information that arises.
— Mendham Twp Police (@MendhamTwpPD) December 16, 2021

Mendham Township Police said should an issue arise, both the township and the school district will communicate about it.

Mendham Borough Police also addressed the threat on Thursday night, stating there would be extra patrols at their schools, including West Morris Mendham High School.

Please understand that there are NO KNOWN THREATS TO WEST MORRIS MENDHAM HIGH SCHOOL, MT. VIEW AND HILLTOP SCHOOLS at this time. There will be extra patrols present at all schools.
Mendham Borough Police Department.
— Mendham Police (@MendhamPolice) December 17, 2021

See their post as well here on Facebook, where the police department asks parents to speak to their children about this threat and any others in the future. They asked parents to report anything they see suspicious to their teachers or school administrators.

"The safety of our children is our priority and anyone who threatens that safety of our children will face serious consequences and force objectively reasonable, necessary and proportional to safely achieve the legitimate law enforcement objective under the circumstances," Mendham Borough Police wrote.

Follow Mendham Township Police on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MendhamTwpPD and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Mendham-Twp-Police-138940963178245.

To connect with Mendham Borough Police on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/Mendham-Borough-Police-Department-300495330078/ and on Twitter https://twitter.com/MendhamPolice.

For all emergencies, call local police departments at 911.

To also contact Mendham Township Police department directly, call 973-543-2581.

For Mendham Borough Police Department, call 973-543-2527.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.