Every citizen in our state now has the chance – and perhaps the obligation – to become ‘digital deputies.’
That’s what President of the North Dakota Sheriff’s Association, Pat Rummel said today as he announced the launch of Project Stand Up.

On Friday, North Dakota became the eighth state to activate Project Stand Up.
It’s an anonymous tip service – through texting – to enhance school safety and report drug crime.
Founder David Bean started the platform last year in South Dakota to help with the drug problem.
Since then, more than 600 drug crime investigations were initiated from the service.

“What my whole mission is is to get our citizens off their butts and to communicate with law enforcement about information they know,” Bean said.

Project Stand Up has now expanded to schools, and the tips will go to the district’s superintendent, school resource officers, and the right law enforcement agency all within 7 minutes.
With more than 115,000 students in public schools, State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said this speaks volumes to something she was told at the beginning of her career, 29 years ago.

“The most important priority that will always be the first priority every day of every year of your career, is that when those students are handed off to us and entrusted in our arms at 8:15 in the morning, that we return them safely to the same arms at 3:15 in the afternoon that dropped them off that morning,” she said.  “That is our priority and I’ve never forgotten that.

To send a school safety tip, students, teachers, or parents can text the word SAFE to 82257.
It works the same for drugs – community members can report illegal drug activity by texting DRUGS to 82257.

Bean, said one of the best features about Project Stand Up is that it cuts out the dispatcher – there is no middle man. 
The tip immediately goes to the appropriate source.