York County News

HARRISBURG – In an effort to equip law enforcement with more effective tools to prosecute individuals involved in “swatting,” a group of House Republicans announced plans to introduce a series of bills. Swatting involves making hoax 911 calls that falsely report serious threats, prompting large-scale police responses.

Instances of swatting have increased in recent years, including a recent incident at a York County Walmart where a caller falsely claimed shootings, hostages, and bombs. Such hoaxes compel law enforcement officers to respond seriously, often deploying crisis response or SWAT teams.

Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester), Dawn Keefer (R-York), and Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset) aim to hold perpetrators accountable through new legislation.

Mackenzie’s bill proposes criminalizing swatting as a felony if bodily injury occurs during the response. “The very nature of these swatting incidents creates the high risk that violence will occur and someone answering the emergency call may get hurt,” said Mackenzie. “My bill would ensure significant criminal penalties are in place to serve as a deterrent to anyone thinking about taking part in this malicious and dangerous conduct.”

Williams’ proposed legislation would allow victims of swatting to sue for damages caused by false reports. “Swatting inflicts serious damage on individuals and property. My legislation grants victims the right to sue individuals making false reports. It allows for the recovery of damages from these malicious acts, ensuring victims access restitution directly from those responsible.”

Keefer’s bill aims to enable courts to order swatters to cover costs incurred by state or municipal responders, including wages, prosecution expenses, and equipment used during the response. “The blue line is already stretched thin enough and we cannot afford to have police officers chasing phantom calls and exhausting valuable resources at the taxpayers’ expense,” Keefer said. “My bill would hold those who make these malicious hoax calls financially liable.”

Rigby’s legislation seeks civil immunity for officers responding to swatting calls under the belief lives are at risk. “As a former police chief, I’ve been on calls of this nature and seen law enforcement in action,” Rigby added. “These ‘swatters’ are toying with officers’ passion to answer the call and wasting time and money in search of a cheap thrill that actually isn’t cheap, as well as potentially putting lives at risk.”