Planned attack tips for schools are increasing this school year

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – We’re just two months into the new school year and we have the latest school safety report card.

It shows something worrying about the type of tips that come into an anonymous reporting system.

Students, parents and teachers can report things anonymously through the SafeVoice app and website. New figures show a worrying trend in threats of school violence.

Sergeant Charles Caster of the Department of Public Safety and the SafeVoice Operations Manager.

“This school year we are looking at planned school attacks as our number one concern,” Sergeant Caster said.

Here are the top three tips reported statewide from the start of the school year through Oct. 15.

• 317 planned school attacks
• 309 complaints from schools or employees
• 268 threat to student tips

Sergeant Caster explains the silver lining and the very real consequences of the planned school attacks this school year.

“While most of these were believed to be false, several arrests occurred across the state because these threats were made by real people, and many of them were students in our state,” Sergeant Caster said.

He thinks he knows why these tips continue to flood the system this school year.

“It’s typically one or two events that go viral and then we get multiple leads of concern, students, parents and community members concerned about a similar or the same event.”

Based on the complaint, either a law enforcement, behavioral health services, or school principal will contact the tipster.

Attacks on schools aren’t the only tips coming in.

Bullying and suicide threats also made the top 10 list so far this school year.

But Sergeant Caster says SafeVoice is a lifesaver.

“I can tell you unequivocally that lives are being saved and have been saved,” Sergeant Caster said.

If it is determined that there was intentional misuse of the platform through a fake attack on a school, the person could face arrest and felony charges, according to Sergeant Caster.

The SafeVoice app is free and a team of fully trained professionals respond to tips 24/7.

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