LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – “The international conflicts we have going on could funnel back down to not only the United States, but here in Texas.”
That concern is exactly why Texas DPS Sergeant Adrian Briseno is pushing for residents to use iWatchTexas, an app that could help stop any potential threats from being acted on.
“Anything criminal in nature,” Briseno said, “obviously anything that’s going to be terrorist related. I know we’re in summer time, but it could also be utilized when school’s in for school-related threats. Anything that’s going to cause a threat to somebody.”
The iWatchTexas app allows residents to fill out a report completely anonymously. Specific things to look out for when it comes to reporting homeland security threats include strangers asking questions about certain security features in buildings, posts about potential acts of violence at a certain location, and actively showing support to terrorist organizations on social media.
“It’s a great tool to not only keep yourself safe, but your community safe,” he said.
Briseno adds law enforcement can’t see everything in real time, so the public’s participation in iWatchTexas could potentially help save lives.
“It could lead to stopping a potential attack,” Briseno said. “Whether it’s a shooting or a bombing or whatever the case may be, it could prevent that from happening later. If that information has been turned in, it can be analyzed and then hopefully put a stop to any kind of harm that’s going to be brought upon a community.”
Every iWatchTexas report that indicates potential foreign influence will automatically be routed to DPS for further analysis. It’s all to make sure law enforcement continues to be proactive, not reactive.
“With the community’s help and their partnership,” Briseno said, “we feel like through this program, this app or through the website, we can get ahead of the game and prevent these tragedies from happening.”
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