November 15, 2024
From bullying to tragic shootings, school violence is a threat facing every community across the country. Statewide school safety tip lines, currently offered in over 20 states, can play a major role in helping protect students and staff. In fact, officials from Texas and Wisconsin recently revealed encouraging stats about their respective programs.
Texas
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that its iWatchTexas program received a record number of school-safety-related reports during the month of September—more than double previous years. In addition to school threats, the community-based reporting system is designed to help Texans alert authorities to all types of suspicious activities and behaviors that may indicate criminal or terroristic threats. DPS said the program plays a pivotal role in preventing potential incidents.
For the month of September, the program recorded a total of 204 school-safety-related reports, a majority of them involving concerning behaviors such as threats or the possibility of planned attacks centered around school campuses.
“Looking out for one another—especially in the face of serious threats—is embedded in the spirit of Texas,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “[September’s] record number of reports is a testament to the vigilance we have, and need to have, as Texans speak up to help ensure that their families, friends, and neighborhoods stay safe.”
DPS’ Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division attributes the record-setting numbers to heightened public awareness of both the iWatchTexas program and the importance of being vigilant—particularly when it comes to schools. By comparison, in 2023, DPS received 89 school-related reports during the month of September, and in 2022, a total of 63.
Learn more about iWatchTexas here.
Read the full article by Joe Bebon