New safety app hitting the mark

A recently launched safety app has shown an immediate impact in the weeks following its release, with more than 40 tips reported through ProtectOK in just four weeks.

The app, which was created by the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma School Security Institute, allows Oklahomans to easily and anonymously report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

The app’s ease of use and anonymity were designed to remove barriers to reporting concerning activity, features that seem to have been effective in the initial launch period.

“ProtectOK was created as a simple, free and anonymous way for people to bring threats forward to law enforcement, because we know that these incidents don’t arise out of nowhere,” said Tim Tipton, Commissioner of Public Safety for Oklahoma.

“In just a few weeks, we’ve seen dozens of credible and legitimate tips come through this line, some of which were about a potential school shooting threat. The app is working and is helping us better protect our communities.”

Ninety-three percent of school shooters planned their attack in advance, underscoring the need for preventative reporting measures.

In four out of five school shootings, at least one other person had knowledge of the attacker’s plan but failed to report it.

ProtectOK is available for free download at the Apple App Store and Google Play. Since its launch, the app saw an immediate spike in downloads from across the state. ProtectOK is a program of the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign from the United States Department of Homeland Security.