URGENT UPDATE: A shelter-in-place order issued in Vail, Colorado, at 12:50 a.m. on Friday has been confirmed as a hoax by local authorities. The incident, which lasted approximately an hour and a half, was triggered by a non-credible bomb threat directed towards the Vail Police Department, according to a statement from the town’s director of communications, Kris Widlak.
Officials are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this false alarm. In a statement, Widlak noted, “It turned out to be a non-credible bomb threat to the Vail PD.” The swift response from law enforcement underscores the growing concern over such incidents, which have surged in recent years.
Police Chief Ryan Kenney recently addressed the Vail Town Council about the increasing frequency of hoaxes, including a series of bomb threats reported at nearby schools in September 2024. This alarming trend has prompted the town to allocate funds in its 2026 budget for a bomb-sniffing dog, a resource that could significantly expedite threat assessments.
Kenney emphasized the importance of this addition, stating, “We just continue to have incidents where having a dog that could quickly clear a large area rather than 10 to 15 officers spending hours going through that same area is crucial.” The prospect of deploying a trained canine unit could reduce the time it takes to secure large venues, an essential improvement for community safety as events in Vail continue to grow.
Residents of Vail are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local authorities. As the investigation unfolds, more updates are expected regarding the source of the hoax and measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Stay tuned for further developments on this story, as Vail authorities work diligently to enhance public safety and respond to community concerns.
