MPD adds app to give students real-time access to police
Milwaukee is adding another tool to its toolbox for helping keep schools safe. And in a sign of the times, it’s an app. “The Milwaukee Police Department has partnered with Atlas One to launch a school safety application that will help keep Milwaukee residents, students and community members safe and informed,” Milwaukee Police chief Jeffrey Norman said.
Atlas One, based in Austin, Tex., is creating digital citizen engagement apps for cities across the country.
The announcement comes just over two weeks after the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex.
Users of the app will be able to have real-time dialogue with the Milwaukee Police Department. They can choose to be anonymous in their communication, and the app allows its users to have their location revealed, or list favorite places — home, school, street — that would give police an idea of where they are.
“Students will be able to download Atlas One for free on their iPhone or Android devices. It will automatically notify them if incidents or public safety issues occur nearby their school,” Jamieson Johnson, vice president of Atlas One said. “Students can anonymously come forward and report suspicious activity and even speak with a Milwaukee Police officer.”
Norman said this won’t replace calling 911 or a non-emergency line, and downloading the app isn’t being required for students at Milwaukee Public Schools.
“This is a voluntary app, not mandatory,” Norman said.
The department said the app was funded by a $250,000 Stop School Violence Grant from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Although intended for people in the city of Milwaukee, it is open to those in Milwaukee County as well. All schools in the city have access to it, and it’s not just limited to Milwaukee Public School students, parents, teachers or caregivers.
Keith Posley, the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, is viewing this as another way for students to get safely to and from school.
“I view this as another tool in the toolbox to be able to be sure that we return our young people to their families home safely,” Posley said.