Ohio Creates Safety Hub to Prevent School Shootings
Public safety and homeland security officials will work together to scan social media for potential threats and serve as a helping hand to schools if they need help with emergency management plans and training.
- By Sherelle Black
- September 12, 2019
In an effort to prevent more school shootings from happening, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has helped to create a safety center that combines public safety and homeland security officials.
These officials work together to scan social media for potential threats as well as serve as a helping hand to schools if they need help with emergency management plans and training.
“The goal is to be able to share all this information from one place and ensure that schools know what opportunities are available at all levels,” said Emily Mayfield, acting administrator for the center, to Government Technology.
The hub houses seven homeland security officials who will also listen to the tip line -844-SAFEROH- to gain information anonymously.
To promote the tip line, DeWine allocated $300,000 for that and the software to be used for scanning social media sites.
If there is a threat, the officials will make the decision on whether to contact the school resource officer or local law enforcement. Non-immediate threats will be followed up by one of the hub’s partners, which include the Ohio School Resource Officers Association, the Department of Higher Education, the Fire Marshal’s division and Mental Health and Addiction Services and more.
The center not only serves as a place to monitor suspicious activity, but as a source for schools that need information about mental health services such as how to prevent a suicide or violent acts.
About the Author
Sherelle Black is a Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.