NATIONWIDE RASH OF ‘SWATTING’ ATTACKS NOW THREATENING LOCAL ROCHESTER RESIDENTS, COSTING LAW ENFORCEMENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHEN WRONGDOERS CALL IN FALSE THREATS; SCHUMER INTRODUCES NEW BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON SWATTING AND DETER ALARMING NEW CRIME TREND; OVER 12 SWATTING ATTACKS IN ROCHESTER HAVE TRIGGERED POLICE SWAT TEAMS TO RESPOND TO HOMES

Near the site of a recent “swatting” attack on Park Avenue in Rochester, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced legislation to crack down on an alarming new nationwide crime trend called “swatting” that has recently emerged as a problem in Rochester. Schumer explained that “swatting” is an incident in which a fake phone call is made in an effort to have police SWAT teams respond to an unsuspecting resident’s home. Schumer said these false alerts are not only terrifying residents, but they are also costing law enforcement departments thousands of dollars and putting at risk both first responders and innocent bystanders.