I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve told my kids to ‘Be observant’. This life lesson has always been one of the main messages that I have delivered to my daughters and son. Paying attention to what is going on around you can go a long way toward protecting yourself and those around you.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a program along that line. It’s a program that not many will have heard of before, but it can help thwart dangerous attacks before they happen. Is named iWatchTexas, and is a vital resource for reporting suspicious activity in schools and communities to help prevent dangerous attacks. During the 2020-21 school year, there were no shootings in Texas schools. By utilizing the many resources available, everyone can continue to work to prevent attacks by reporting any potential threats.
These resources include the iWatchTexas program, the Texas School Safety Center, and lastly, Active Shooter Alert, if an attack is in progress.
“School safety is a top priority for DPS, and iWatchTexas makes it easy for people to report anything suspicious that may indicate a potential threat,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “We must remain vigilant to ensure that our children and teachers are safe when they go to school. If someone sees something suspicious, it’s critical that they report it with this easy-to-use tool. Ultimately, it can save lives. “
The iWatchTexas The program is a partnership between communities and law enforcement agencies and uses citizen advice on suspicious activities to thwart potential criminal acts.
DPS saw three times as many reports made through iWatchTexas in 2021 compared to 2020, when schools began to return to in-person learning. iWatchTexas is a valuable tool for reporting school safety by adding important threat information to the Texas School Safety Network. DPS can then use all available information to provide greater situational awareness and increase exchange between schools and law enforcement agencies, while protecting student privacy.
In 2021, there were numerous cases where reports to iWatchTexas It resulted in collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement, school districts, mental health professionals, and parents / legal guardians to intervene with at-risk students and prevent potential incidents in schools.
This included an incident in September 2021, when a member of the public saw social media posts involving a teenager in San Patricio County and made a report via iWatchTexas. DPS and law enforcement agencies in San Patricio County investigated the posts, which revealed that the teenager had killed his family and was also planning an attack on his school.
Tips can be reported through the website, the free iOS or Android mobile app, or by calling 844-643-2251. All reports are confidential.. For information on how to use iWatchTexas, you can watch this instructional video. Remember, iWatchTexas not for emergencies If there is an emergency on a school campus or in a community, call 911 immediately. Additionally, the program can be used to report suspicious activity in areas other than schools.
In addition to iWatchTexas, the Texas School Safety Center is another helpful tool for school safety. It is part of Texas State University and offers valuable resources on school safety for parents and members of the school community. It is designed to be a central location for research, training, and technical information for all school districts, charter schools, and community colleges in the state. The Texas School Safety Center has staff experienced in school safety and can provide technical assistance or training, conduct program evaluations, or offer resources to schools. Classes are also available online to the community.
Finally, on September 1, 2021, DPS implemented the Active Shooter Alert System. This is not specific to the school, but could be used in the event of a shooting at or near a school. The newly implemented alert system is designed to notify individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter situation via cell phones, local broadcast media, and Texas Department of Transportation dynamic message signs (DMS), to encourage people to avoid the area or shelter in place.
DPS will issue an active shooter alert when an agency submits a qualifying application. Those include an active shooter in the agency’s jurisdiction, a determination that the alert would assist individuals near the active shooter’s location, verification of the active shooter’s situation through a preliminary investigation by the requesting agency. and that the shooter’s last known location is identifiable.
By utilizing these available resources, Texans can work together to keep our schools safe.
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