Campus Alert Archive
SBVC

Bomb Threat Closes a Community College Still Reeling From the San Bernardino Terror Attack 12 Days Earlier

CAbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

On December 14, 2015, San Bernardino Valley College received a bomb threat that forced an immediate campus evacuation at approximately 5:30 PM PST. The threat came just 12 days after the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack at the nearby Inland Regional Center that killed 14 people. Police determined the threat was a hoax within 30 minutes, but the campus remained closed through December 15.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
San Bernardino Valley College
Community College · CA
~13,000 studentsSBVC Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X
Verified verbatimKTLA, quoting the SBVC campus tweet (also quoted verbatim by the Washington Post)95 chars
There is a threat to San Bernardino Valley College campus. Please leave the campus immediately.
Both KTLA and the Washington Post quote this exact two-sentence tweet, posted from the official SBVC campus account around 5:30 p.m. PST on December 14, 2015 and signed by Chief of Police Pierre Galvez
The alert did not specify the nature of the threat, only urging immediate evacuation
UPDATETwitter/X
Approximate reconstruction108 chars
Campus is closed until further notice. Please stay tuned for more info soon. -Chief of Police, Pierre Galvez

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

San Bernardino police confirmed within 30 minutes that the bomb threat was a hoax, but the campus remained closed as a precaution given the heightened security environment after the December 2 attack
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction311 chars
San Bernardino Valley College has been cleared to reopen on Wednesday, December 16, following a thorough search of the campus by the San Bernardino Community College District Police Department. No threatening materials were found. Normal campus operations will resume and final exams will continue as scheduled.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Although San Bernardino Police determined the threat was a hoax within about 30 minutes (by approximately 6:00 p.m. PST on December 14), the campus remained closed all day on Tuesday, December 15, with the announcement of reopening made midday Tuesday — reflecting the extreme caution in the community following the December 2 mass shooting
Context

Background

The bomb threat at San Bernardino Valley College occurred in an atmosphere of intense fear and heightened security following the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center, which killed 14 people and injured 22 others just 12 days earlier. SBVC is located approximately 2 miles from the Inland Regional Center. The Washington Post reported that the college remained closed through December 15 even after police determined the bomb threat was not credible. The KTLA coverage noted that the San Bernardino Community College District Police conducted a thorough campus search before allowing reopening on December 16. The incident illustrates how community trauma from nearby mass violence events amplifies the impact of subsequent threats on educational institutions, particularly community colleges that serve local populations most directly affected by such events.
Analysis

Key Findings

The bomb threat came just 12 days after the deadliest terrorist attack in California since 1999, amplifying community fear
Despite being deemed a hoax within 30 minutes, the campus stayed closed for nearly two days, reflecting the trauma-driven caution in the community
Community colleges serve local populations who are most directly impacted by nearby mass violence events
The use of Twitter as a primary alert channel for an evening evacuation shows the evolving role of social media in campus emergency communication
Outcome
The bomb threat was determined to be a hoax. No explosive devices were found after a thorough search. Campus reopened on December 16, 2015.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    San Bernardino Valley College to Remain Closed Day After 'Hoax' Bomb Threat - KTLA
    ktla.com
  2. national media
    College in San Bernardino cleared to reopen Wednesday, after bomb threat deemed not credible - Washington Post
    washingtonpost.com
  3. News
    San Bernardino Valley College reopens after possible bomb threat was made - KSNV
    news3lv.com
  4. reference
    2015 San Bernardino attack - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
Tags
bomb-threatcommunity-collegehoaxcaliforniapost-terrorism-fearcampus-closureHoax
Added April 2026Updated April 2026Via ingestion