“See something, say something:” four simple words with one heavy impact. And those simple words are easier said than done for many. Speaking up is difficult, but Safe2Say Something, an anonymous tip program, hopes to make it easier. 

Developed in 2018 under Act 44, a call that introduced a need for an anonymous tip system, Safe2Say Something made its way into North Penn School District in January 2019. 

“I think it was a good decision to implement it, because it’s tough to go to authorities yourself when concerned about someone or even yourself, and when it’s someone else, being scared of their reaction is so common,” Katie Taylor, a North Penn High School junior, commented. 

“Safe2Say is in existence… because people don’t want to be retaliated against…It’s a lot easier to submit a tip on the phone, nobody’s over your shoulder, versus people can see you come down to the main office, and immediately they start trying to connect the dots,“ explained Mr. Brandon Rhone, the Coordinator of Emergency Management and Safe Schools in North Penn

“With Safe2Say, you can report that same information and people don’t know where it came from,” Rhone added. 

Rhone is responsible for school safety across the entire district, and Safe2Say reports make their way to him to investigate. On his end, the tips are categorized and then further investigated. 

“Typically it will come to us with a category. We’ve seen life-safety, threats against school bullying, even people who have misused it… it’ll come in as a false tip. The agents on the back end of Safe2Say will categorize what type of tip it is. Generally I get a text message and an email, and then if it’s a life-safety tip, they will follow up with a phone call. I would say we probably get more bullying or informational tips, but we do get our fair share of life safety tips,” Rhone commented.

Safe2Say’s website informs people that “1,000,000 students reported being harrassed, threatened or subject to other forms of cyberbullying,” which makes an anonymous tip platform an important tool for reporting bullying. 

“I think people have gotten way too sneaky with bullying now. It’s mostly cyberbullying, which can be more one-on-one with the victim and bully,” another North Penn student, who wished to remain anonymous, reflected. 

Even with a majority of bullying and informational tips, the power of Safe2Say extends to saving lives.

“I know for 100% for a fact that it has helped here. We have received some of those life safety tips where people were struggling and in crisis, and their friend reported it and we have certainly saved some lives by people reporting that information…[Safe2Say] has the power to inform people about what information people know…when we use the word ‘prevention,’ it’s really on us as people,” Rhone said.

On top of these reports, Rhone and security receive occasional false tips, which they are still responsible for looking into. Filing these false reports can result in school disciplinary action, and go as far as law enforcement involvement. 

“If someone submits a false report, there’s a number of steps we could take…it could be school discipline, but there could also be criminal charges for filing a false report…. That’s the part where you get frustrated. There’s a lot of resources that goes into each one of these tips that come in. When it’s somebody trying to get back at somebody else…it’s really a waste of time and resources and that becomes frustrating,” explained Rhone. 

Rhone encourages students to use Safe2Say when important information is in their hands. 

“It is anonymous, and if you have information regarding safety of the building or someone else’s safety, report that…it is really important that we receive that information so that we can address the problem, as fast as possible.”

Safe2Say is fully anonymous, but allows for 2-way communication, which people can choose to engage in or not. 

“The agent on the other end could send questions back to you and ask you some follow-up or more detailed questions. And then what will happen is, whatever information you provide, they will send that information over to me, the building administrator. We all receive that information as kind of a checks and balances to make sure that it’s not just one person…that if it’s something like a life-safety report that there’s enough eyes to catch it,” Rhone explained. 

Additionally, Safe2Say can be used all over, by staff, students, and community members. 

“I think sometimes people think it’s just for students, but it’s really anyone. Staff, students, community members can report information. If they have knowledge of something, and want to share that information and remain anonymous, they can use Safe2Say whether they call. go online, or use the app,” Rhone said. 

Rhone and the other school administrators work hard with Safe2Say all times of day, throughout the whole year, to maintain a safe environment. 

“There are times where it could be challenging. I…was up on the phone upwards until midnight…working on a Safe2Say tip that came in. This job is not 9:00 to 5:00. It is 24/7. And when the phone rings and the email goes off, you got to deal with it. Whether it’s Monday morning, or Monday night or Saturday morning. Tips come in all types of hours, all types of days, even in the summer. So you have to be passionate about it because the work doesn’t stop. You have to be passionate because that’s really the only way you survive.”

Rhone wants students to understand the importance of a safe school environment, and works hard to protect it. 

“I think it’s important that students understand there’s a time and place for everything. And here, in the education setting, it’s about coming in, learning, getting the education you need to further your life and what it is you want to do, and an opportunity to make some memories with friends. Working in public safety in general, oftentimes you are seeing and dealing with people in their worst moment, “Rhone explained. “When you think about being in law enforcement, 9 times out of 10 when you call the police it’s not because you got meatloaf and mashed potatoes on the table. It’s because there’s a problem that needs to be solved and somebody needs to come and resolve it. I will say that, in regards to Safe2Say, we’ve seen where there’s been appropriate and real use that has been impactful.”