Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette on Tuesday visited the OK2SAY Intake Team and State Emergency Operations Center at the Michigan State Police Headquarters in Dimondale. Schuette was joined by Michigan State Police Deputy Director Lt. Col. Tom Sands.
Schuette visited the Michigan Emergency Operations Center Cyber Command and talked with troopers assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The Michigan Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS) was also a stop for Schuette. MPSCS serves federal, local, and state public agencies.
Schuette, whose office operates the OK2SAY program with assistance from the MSP OK2SAY intake team, was at MSP Headquarters to see the tip intake process from start to finish.
“When students submit their tips to OK2SAY, the intake team, which is specially trained to respond to students’ tips, is there 24/7,” said Schuette. “It was great to see firsthand how the tips are processed and to celebrate the cooperation between the Department of Attorney General and MSP that ensures OK2SAY is a success.”
In June of 2018 despite being summer vacation for most Michigan schools, OK2SAY received 365 tips, bringing the total number of tips to 14,552 since the program began in 2014.
OK2SAY is a student safety program that acts as an early warning system in Michigan schools to prevent tragedies before they occur. Launched by Schuette in 2014, the program encourages students to submit confidential tips to trained technicians regarding potential harm or threats 24/7. In June more than 880 students heard an OK2SAY presentation, bringing the total number to more than 493,000 students since the program’s inception in 2014. An additional 71 community members heard an OK2SAY program in June.
Key features of OK2SAY include:
• In-school Programming: Thirty-one specialized OK2SAY presenters visit schools around the state to encourage students to step up, speak out, and report anything that threatens their safety or the safety of others.
• Confidential Reporting: State law protects the confidentiality of the reporter’s identity. The identity of the reporting party will not be disclosed to local law enforcement, school officials, or the person about whom a tip is offered, unless the reporter voluntarily chooses to disclose his or her identity. If the reporter is a minor, the parent or guardian must also consent.
• Comprehensive Technology: Anyone can confidentially submit tips 24/7 using any of the five tip methods detailed below. Multi-media attachments like photos, videos, and links to additional information are encouraged.
• Coordinated Intervention: Upon receipt of a tip, specially trained OK2SAY technicians at the Michigan State Police screen and forward tips to an appropriate responding agency including: local law enforcement, schools, local community mental health organizations, or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
• Accountability: Each responding organization is asked to complete an Outcome Report detailing the nature of the tip, how the tip was handled, and whether the tip situation was resolved or requires ongoing attention. This provides local entities an opportunity to illustrate that student safety threats are tracked and taken seriously.
Tips can be submitted through the following ways:
Phone: 8-555-OK2SAY, 855-565-2729
Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)
Email: ok2say@mi.gov
Web: ok2say.com
OK2SAY Mobile App: Available for download in app stores for iPhone and Android.
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