So what happens when your family is targeted in a Safe2Tell report?

[KevDen2005]

I appreciate a view from the LEO side of things, and this is not intended to be a LE bash fest.

If you go the Safe2Tell website, there is ZERO information for individuals/parents on the receiving end of a report.

In the scenario illustrated in this thread, the son is not an active shooter threat, just a responsible and non-criminal shooting sports enthusiast, like the members of this forum, who happened to make a statement to his friend about going to the range.

What would be the depth of such a report investigation?

This happens all the time. Unfortunately in the world we live in, LE will go to the house and let the parents know that someone reported the incident with the child talking about guns. I remind parents all the time, nothing here is illegal, just letting them know that someone was concerned and since they know their kids best maybe check on them and remind them to be careful who they are talking to or talking in front of

[.455_Hunter]

This happens all the time. Unfortunately in the world we live in, LE will go to the house and let the parents know that someone reported the incident with the child talking about guns. I remind parents all the time, nothing here is illegal, just letting them know that someone was concerned and since they know their kids best maybe check on them and remind them to be careful who they are talking to or talking in front of

Thank you. I had no idea about the mandated level of response to one of these reports. What you indicate seems very reasonable and non-confrontational.

I think it is inappropriate for the Safe2Tell organization to keep this part of the procedure out of the public eye.

[FoxtArt]

Yeah, not LE bashing. And not saying LE is out to get anyone. That's why, imho it is wise to be asking questions about the report itself so that the parent can investigate.

As a parent myself, I don't see any value in answering LE questions. And it isn't because they are out to get anyone either. Let me give you an example....

Squatter breaks into a home, owner asks LE to investigate it. LE questions the squatter who says they are renting it and have an oral lease, LE questions the homeowner, who says the squatter broke in and has never had right to be there.

LEO does 14 more calls that day and does his reports at the end of the day. Whether from fatigue or a typo, in his report he says he talked to the homeowner, who said they have an oral lease with the squatter.

LEO is not out to get the homeowner, just making regular mistakes that everyone makes at the end of the day. But it can absolutely F that person's life. I've seen tons of small mistakes like this, they are not malicious, but an LEO's report is usually treated as accurate gospel.

You know what I'd much rather have in a report?

Contacted the homeowner, advised him of the report, homeowner took note of the report and politely refused to answer questions.

Why on gods green earth should we default to allowing all government influence beyond what is necessary? Now there are certainly some parents that are not capable of working with their kids to ascertain their own mental health needs after a report like that. But there are certainly a lot of parents that are fully capable. If someone is in the former category - no judgment upon that, and they certainly should allow access and direct contact if they are not the type that is able to do those heavy discussions.

Not everyone exercising rights is out to get LEO, either.

[KevDen2005]

Yeah, not LE bashing. And not saying LE is out to get anyone. That's why, imho it is wise to be asking questions about the report itself so that the parent can investigate.

As a parent myself, I don't see any value in answering LE questions. And it isn't because they are out to get anyone either. Let me give you an example....

Squatter breaks into a home, owner asks LE to investigate it. LE questions the squatter who says they are renting it and have an oral lease, LE questions the homeowner, who says the squatter broke in and has never had right to be there.

LEO does 14 more calls that day and does his reports at the end of the day. Whether from fatigue or a typo, in his report he says he talked to the homeowner, who said they have an oral lease with the squatter.

LEO is not out to get the homeowner, just making regular mistakes that everyone makes at the end of the day. But it can absolutely F that person's life. I've seen tons of small mistakes like this, they are not malicious, but an LEO's report is usually treated as accurate gospel.

You know what I'd much rather have in a report?

Contacted the homeowner, advised him of the report, homeowner took note of the report and politely refused to answer questions.

Why on gods green earth should we default to allowing all government influence beyond what is necessary? Now there are certainly some parents that are not capable of working with their kids to ascertain their own mental health needs after a report like that. But there are certainly a lot of parents that are fully capable. If someone is in the former category - no judgment upon that, and they certainly should allow access and direct contact if they are not the type that is able to do those heavy discussions.

Not everyone exercising rights is out to get LEO, either.

That was a pretty long drawn out example. And clearly you know a bunch about the law, so I'll save you the explanation that the law tends to side with the resident/tenant in landlord issues, not saying that someone clearly trespassing can't be kicked out and should be kicked out. However, I would call that example rare, and no police reports are not taken as gospel, if so, cops would be in court less.

Sometimes having a polite conversation goes even further.

[KevDen2005]

Thank you. I had no idea about the mandated level of response to one of these reports. What you indicate seems very reasonable and non-confrontational.

I think it is inappropriate for the Safe2Tell organization to keep this part of the procedure out of the public eye.

Safe2Tell doesn't mandate anything, only anonymity. It's department policy that mandates response. I'm sure some rural locations have much lower requirements on response. Since everyone loves examples...let's say an active shooter happened in a small town in Connecticut. After that, every weird kid, family that hunts, kid's that mentions anything violent, etc. get's reported on. After every incident in this country these reports multiply, in addition to the police reports officers are taking on the rising crime in your neighborhood and departments who are losing officers and hiring officers that have no business being cops to replace them and are making everyone's job harder because those new officers didn't take a report or hid out somewhere doing nothing so other officers get overworked. If one of those kids snaps do you think the command staff is going to take the blame? They will in the media, but crap rolls down hill and when it does it picks up momentum and volume. So the cop that takes the report isn't about to risk not at least checking on it.

[Eric P]

Safe2Tell is anonymous

This is the issue. The reporter should be contacted 1st. Can't taken anonymous reports seriously if a reporter won't stand behind the report.

[KevDen2005]

This is the issue. The reporter should be contacted 1st. Can't taken anonymous reports seriously if a reporter won't stand behind the report.

I can't believe I'm about to defend Safe2Tell, a system that I hate so much and has taken up hours of my life...

The idea is that a kid can tell someone that his or her friend is suicidal. A lot of kids have been afraid in the past because their names have been attached. That's what the system was intended for. Do dumbasses do dumbass things with whatever tool we hand them? Yes. Kids especially. Does Safe2Tell get a lot of "my feelings are hurt so it should be a crime" reports, Yes, a ton. Does Safe2Tell get a lot of, "They looked at me mean so they threatened me reports? Also, yes. However, A lot of adult report that too.

I would love if every single anonymous complaint got to be trashed because they were anonymous, not just Safe2Tell, but in everything. That would save me a ton of time in life.

[FoxtArt]

We do appreciate your perspective Ken.

[KevDen2005]

We do appreciate your perspective Ken.

Thank you.

[Bailey Guns]

That will make it an open season for punk and bitch to lie to authorities.
" that guy has 2- 55gal water drum, and his social media had some metal plumbing pipe and some wires!!!"

No different than any other anonymous allegation that could be fabricated about someone. It all boils down to people...shitty people who take advantage of a system to do their shitty things to other people. And cops usually wind up getting caught in the middle. And then you have the knuckleheads who won't even answer the door so you have to spend more time going back later on...or someone else does...just to try to potentially help save a kid and a family from a bad situation.