Safe and Sound Iowa app received 200 threats this school year alone

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Safe and Sound Iowa app has received more than 200 threat reports this school year.

The app was created as a part of the Governor’s School Safety Initiative. Students can report threats anonymously to the Iowa Department of Public Safety using the app.

Special Agent in Charge Don Schnitker, the Bureau Chief of the Governor’s School Safety Bureau, said that students being able to make reports anonymously is key.

“We’ve had weapons information come in. Sometimes there’s a possible a knife that would be in school we get that out of the student’s hands. We’ve had guns come in. Sometimes those are airsoft guns but those are definitely concerns and things that should be reported. If we really want to prevent these tragedies we have to create an environment where our kids are comfortable reporting that information in an anonymous way, like Safe and Sound Iowa is key to that if a school doesn’t have a program like this they need to get one,” Schnitker said

The Safe and Sound Iowa app is available for all schools in Iowa to use for free.

When a report comes in the Iowa Department of Public Safety notifies the school and local police department so they can take action.

The app is available to download for free on the Apple and Google Play store.