LIHUE, Hawaii — The Kauai Police Department issued a news release on Saturday saying they had been made aware of social media posts alleging an attempted kidnapping near a school in Kapaa.

KPD stated they had not received any report of an alleged kidnapping. After following up with school officials, police officers were unable to corroborate information in a published school memo.

“There have been no attempted kidnapping incidents reported to KPD, and the inaccurate narrative claiming a lack of action on KPD’s part is simply false,” stated Kalani Ke, assistant chief of KPD’s Patrol Services Bureau, in the release.

“Our officers are mothers and fathers first, and we take these accusations to heart. While we have not been able to verify the facts alleged in recent social media posts, it is a good opportunity for schools and families to discuss student safety,” said Ke.

KPD provided safety tips to put into practice daily:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings - Listen, look and pay attention to the people and places around you.
• Have a plan - Educate children on how to deal with strangers and get help if they feel unsafe.
• Protect yourself against misinformation - Consider the source and seek out facts from verified sources.
• Go with your gut - If you see something suspicious, call KPD Dispatch at 808-241-1711. If it’s an emergency, call 911.

“Please immediately report any suspicious activity to KPD. Reports and inquiries are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated,” added Ke. “If there is ever an active threat to the public, KPD will notify the community with verified information. We appreciate the community’s continued vigilance to keep our keiki safe.”