COLUMBUS – Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) has unveiled a first-of-its-kind suspicious activity reporting system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help law enforcement identify and respond to potential threats of violence.
The new Safeguard Ohio app, developed in partnership with private firm Vigiliti, allows residents to submit real-time reports of suspicious activity, including photos, video, and audio. Reports go directly to the Statewide Terrorism Analysis and Crime Center, which operates 24/7 and immediately shares information with local, state, or federal authorities as needed.
Governor Mike DeWine said the system is designed to make public reporting faster and more effective.
“Events that threaten the safety of Ohioans can be hard to predict, but they can be prevented with timely, detailed tips from the public,” DeWine said. “This new app simplifies the process to get information to law enforcement quickly and conveniently.”
Safeguard Ohio replaces the state’s older online form system. Its AI-powered prompts encourage users to provide detailed information and can even recognize urgent situations, directing people to call 911 when necessary.
OHS Executive Director Mark Porter said the technology ensures higher-quality tips.
“The AI is trained to keep asking questions until the person reporting says they have no more information,” Porter explained. “That leads to better intelligence for our analysts and investigators.”
The app offers eight reporting categories, including drug-related activity, terrorism, human trafficking, school threats, and crimes against children. To encourage broader use, it supports reports in 10 additional languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Somali, and Yiddish.
Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson noted that the ability to upload multimedia evidence makes the app especially valuable.
“More and more people today – especially younger generations – don’t like to talk on the phone,” Wilson said. “This reporting method will result in more detailed information being shared with authorities, and better information leads to better investigations.”
Safeguard Ohio is the first criminal justice tip-reporting app in the U.S. to use AI in this way. Each submission generates a unique QR code, allowing users to add new details after their initial report.
OHS emphasized that the app is not a substitute for calling 911 in emergencies, but is intended to strengthen community-based prevention efforts by making it easier for Ohioans to “See Something, Say Something – or Send Something.”
