VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) _ Teachers in Porter County schools will soon have a cellphone app that will let them call police at the touch of a button if there's a serious incident.

The Munster Times reports that Portage Township Schools Superintendent Richard Weigel this week told the school board about the Guard 911 app. Weigel says if there is a shooter or other danger teachers can press a button and a signal will go to all police in a 20-mile radius.

Porter County Sheriff Dave Reynolds says it will cost about $1,000 per school building to start the program. He says the Valparaiso mayor has promised funding and he'll use $45,000 in drug seizure money for startup costs.

Superintendent Weigel says the app “will provide faster service so we can be safer.''