“School safety” used to mean no running in the halls and the occasional fire drill, but the phrase has taken on a tragically different meaning over the past decade or so.

It’s a subject nobody likes to talk about because talking about it means we have to face the reality that the unthinkable has happened and very well could happen again. Fire drills are now coupled with “active shooter drills,” where students and teachers must learn the steps to best protect themselves in the event of a tragedy similar to the one that recently took place in Florida.

We’ve already seen additional security measures utilized on campuses here in Fountain Hills. From more secure fences to completely remodeled entrances, additional security cameras and beyond, work has been done in recent years to make school safety a top priority.

But more can always be done. To that end, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Capt. Hank Brandimarte recently spoke to the town council about measures taken to strengthen school safety in our community. MCSO has already taken part in active shooter drills of its own. They’ve got another session planned in Queen Creek next month and plan to hold additional sessions on local campuses at some point in the future to better familiarize deputies with each campus.

But Capt. Brandimarte’s most important message during his recent chat with the council is one we’ve all heard time and time again: if you see something, say something.

It’s the kind of message you would be forgiven for letting lose its weight. If you hear something like that enough times, you eventually stop hearing it altogether. But we all need to hear it again and, more importantly, take it to heart.

Locally, you can “say something” anonymously thanks to the Text-A-Tip program. For those who wish to keep the Text-A-Tip number handy, simply save the number for CRIMES (274637) in your phone. When you send a text to that number to report a cause for concern, begin the text with “FH.” Briefly explain where you are and what has happened, and the situation will be looked into. Again, this is a completely anonymous program that has already led to numerous interventions and arrests in Fountain Hills.