(Lake County) - The Willowick Police Department is launching a new smart phone app that will allow students to directly communicate with the city's police department when there are safety issues.
The app is called STOP or Students Text Officer Protect, and Mayor Richard Regovich expects it to be made available to middle school students starting in August.
Regovich says this may be the first app of its type in the nation to allow students to directly report crimes, suspicious activity, or even bullying, and send photo evidence.
The app will be monitored 24/7 by the police dispatch center. STOP will be free to students with parental consent, and users will be registered to prevent abuse, but reports can be made anonymously.
The app will be limited to students at Willowick Middle School, and will it not able through app stores.
Regovich says he is seeking corporate sponsorships so that STOP will not cost the taxpayers or the school district.
(Photo by Ken Robinson/WTAM)
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