Police across Cambria and Somerset Counties have responded to multiple threats at schools in the area.

Law enforcement officials said the clock starts ticking from the second they learn of a potential school shooting threat.

“These are serious matters and they are responded to in a serious way,” said Somerset Borough Police Chief Randy Cox. “We’ll run to ground every clue or every tip that comes in.”

Whether or not the threats are credible, police said investigations take money and manpower and take away resources from other investigations and police duties.

“Long-term, I certainly wouldn’t want to operate like that,” Cox said. “We would not be able to bear the burden of maintaining our normal operation with all the added attention that needs to be paid to to that priority issue.”

The impact on smaller police departments and rural communities can be even more taxing. They have to rely on law enforcement from other towns, counties or states for help. Responding to an active shooter threat is also very costly.

“Without state and federal help, you could basically spend a city, borough or township’s entire budget,” said Richland Township Police Sergeant Jason Shuman.

“You’re dealing with a potentially high-stakes matter when you’re talking about the lives of our children, so that carries a burden on the officers,” Cox said.

Cox said that burden is one schools, parents and the entire community need to share.

“When either side of that equation fails, is when we have a tragedy,” said Cox.

Police regularly train for active shooter situations and look for other learning opportunities, like forensic social media training.

Somerset Borough police investigated a threat this week. Although police found that threat not credible, Cox said about six hours passed between when the threat circulated on social media and when it was finally reported.

Law enforcement said it’s important for students, parents, teachers and the community to report rumors or threats of violence as soon as possible.