Morris County launches new app for students, parents and school staff to report school threats

Morris County law enforcement and school officials announced Thursday the launch of a free mobile app called RSVP-3 Morris County, NJ to report threats towards schools.

Students, school staff and parents can use the free app to anonymously report threats to school safety and behavior that could disrupt classroom security, such as bullying, harassment, substance abuse or potential violence.

RSVP-3 – which stands for Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, Protection – is a component of a multi-faceted program between the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, in response to recent school shootings that that occurred in our country.

The mobile app is live and can be downloaded as follows:

• Go to the Google Play store or Apple App Store on your mobile device.
• Search for RSVP-3 Morris County, NJ.
• Once installed, open the application
• Enter a unique four-digit passcode that you will remember and use as a login.

Tips to the app are monitored by law enforcement professionals working cooperatively with school officials in real-time, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Funding for the app was made possible by the Morris County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers program, and the behavioral threat assessment curriculum on behalf of the Morris County Board of Freeholders and the federal Urban Area Security Initiative.

So far, two public school districts in Morris County have committed to forming teams that will help law enforcement agencies investigate the tips. The app is available for anyone – students, parents, teachers and staff – to report a tip about school safety or a troubling school environment.  All 36 municipal police departments in Morris County have signed on to the program.

“The app is a tool that students, who may not be comfortable reporting disturbing information in person, can reliably inform the police and school personnel to avert a tragedy,” Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said.

First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas A. Zelante said the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office congratulates Sheriff Gannon, Chief Chimento and Morris County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers Chairman John Sette, and the other law enforcement officials involved in launching this important preventive step.

First Assistant Prosecutor Zelante said “This app will save children from injury and the after-effects of injuries.”