I was a police officer when my daughter called me in fear.

 

She had just left school and was walking to her local gym when she noticed a man filming her on the street. She reported it, but the police response time was estimated to be 15 to 25 minutes. She thought that calling the police would connect her to me, but I was off duty.

 

Thankfully, she called me directly. I guided her to safety over the phone and was able to track down the man. He was arrested, and I found a video of her on his phone.

 

That day, I realized she was safe because of the awareness I had taught her and because I was reachable. But what if she hadn’t noticed him? What if I hadn’t been there?

 

That question stayed with me. How many others go unnoticed, unhelped, and unprepared? Public services are overwhelmed, CCTV can’t intervene, and people are often left alone.

 

That’s when I knew: I can’t protect everyone, but I can teach people how to protect themselves and their loved ones.