After announcing on Monday that it would send patrols to McColl from Charleston and Charlotte following the resignation of the entire police force and death of the mayor of McColl, a national nonprofit group has said they have received threats.
The One In Five Foundation for Kids said in a news release that it received a telephone threat warning volunteer safety teams to “Stay out of McColl” and that it should “Mind its own business” or face, “an accident”
After the Uvalde mass shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School, Texas in May 2022, the organization was renamed the Uvalde Foundation for Kids. STOPNOW citizen-patrol teams will be launched this week to help ensure the safety and security of McColl School’s students, faculty, and community.
Officials from the foundation stated that the threat was traced to an unreachable number in Bennettsville by their internal safety teams who operate a 24-hour school threats database and crisis center.
The group stated that it would not stop helping the community, and patrol plans will continue to move forward.
Daniel Chapin is the founder and director of the group. He said: “We do not know what happened in McColl, but we know we will do everything we can to help ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens and students.” We cannot pinpoint the exact source of threats against our efforts. We will not be discouraged and continue with our plans for the next few weeks and days.
The group stated that a team of five members would arrive this week and more were being recruited and trained to assist the community. They will also assist with community safety patrols as well as community support engagements until more formal safety and law enforcement arrangements have been made.
STOPNOW Patrols are a new anti-crime initiative modeled on the “Guardian Angels”, a unit that was active in New York City during the 1980s. They patrol schools to prevent incidents and to encourage students to be safe.
