DPS: iWatchTexas Program Received Record Number of School Safety Reports in September

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.

• Note: The iWatchTexas is a community-based anonymous reporting system designed to help Texans alert authorities to suspicious activities that may indicate criminal terroristic threats, school safety threats, and it plays a pivotal role in preventing potential incidents, the DPS announcement said.

For the month of September 2024, 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.

By comparison, in 2023, DPS received 89 school safety related reports during the month of September, and in 2022, a total of 63.

“Looking out for one another – especially in the face of serious threats – is embedded in the spirit of Texas,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw, adding:

“Last month’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. By simply reporting suspicious activity, we all can play a very big role in protecting the schools, businesses and communities we love.”

More info: https://iwatchtx.org