‘I know for sure that we have averted school shootings:’ Safe2Say Something program director

(WHTM) – Since Safe2Say Something launched in January 2019, nearly 150,000 tips have been submitted.

“I know for sure that we have averted school shootings,” said Safe2Say Something program director Brittney Kline.

In the 2023-2024 school year, almost 33,000 tips were submitted. So far, this school year around 4,000 tips submitted.

Tips can be submitted anonymously online or through their app.

“I think it’s important for parents and everyone to know that we are getting that information in, and we are processing them, and we are working together to address any of the threats and make sure that there are no legitimate threats or concerns to the schools,” said Kline.

Kline says, regarding the recent school threats online: “Within probably 10 hours during one of the shifts, they had over 300 tips just in regard to these threats.”

All tips received are investigated by a team of investigative analysts at the Safe2Say Something Crisis Center.

Tips are sent to the school and depending on the tip it will also be sent to law enforcement.

“But I think it’s important to make sure that the information they’re submitting is true,” Kline said, “That they’re not using it to submit any type of pranks or bullying tips towards other students because there are consequences for that.”

Last school year, almost 1,400 tips were false or a prank.

“If we are chasing down the wrong threat, it could take our attention away from something that is more serious. And we need to be able to just keep there, keep our kids safe, and make sure that we are chasing down the correct threats versus any types of pranks or bullying issues that are not actually true,” said Kline.

This past school year, 35 weapons were recovered as a result of tips submitted. Since the program started, 123 weapons have been recovered.

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