FITCHBURG -- A massive police response at Fitchburg High School back on September 12th happened after some alerts came to police through an app called STOPit.
“We did have some communications the app that brought some concerns to our attention,” said Chief Ernest Martineau of the Fitchburg Police Department.
That concern was due to knives brought onto the campus. Police say two students were arrested after one had a pocket knife and a second hid a kitchen knife in the school library.
Fitchburg’s Police Chief spoke to Boston 25 by phone. He says the STOPit app is a game changer.
“This gives not only our student population but our teachers, our entire school community the opportunity to communicate directly and have someone getting crucial information immediately,” said Chief Martineau.
And Fitchburg’s Chief says the app was helpful again just last week.
“We had a bomb threat at Fitchburg High and there was some communication on the STOPit app,” he said.
The STOPit app is simple to use. If you have an incident to report you just open the app.
Click on the tip button and it opens to a whole range of issues - everything from bullying to sexual assault and even weapons are listed. A series of questions pop up and your answers connect you with someone from your organization. And you can remain completely anonymous.
Fitchburg purchased the app thru a federal grant. The Police Chief says the anonymous aspect makes it valuable for kids who might be victims. He says they can feel safe reporting a concern.
“Quite frankly, it should be throughout the Commonwealth. It’s a great tool to put in the hands of students,” said Chief Martineau.
Chief Martineau also says with 6,000 students in Fitchburg schools that’s a lot of eyes and ears who can report a concern - big or small in a matter of seconds.
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