CANTON – The power of artificial intelligence will help Stark County schools and law enforcement agencies detect and stop people with guns inside schools and other public buildings.
At a recent press conference, Sheriff George T. Meyer and industry representatives said a new software system will allow them to monitor video feeds from schools and other locations for visible weapons. He explained that it will allow law enforcement agencies to respond to threats faster.
“It can buy us time,” Meyer said. “We need time. Follow the national media playbook on school shootings. It all happens in a very short period of time. Shortening that response time will save lives and keep people safe. It will help protect you.”
He said in nearly all school shootings, the shooter brandishes a gun as he enters the school.
“There’s no way someone would openly bring it into a school. That’s definitely a red flag for us,” Meyer said.
A demonstration of the ZeroEyes software took place at a press conference Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at the Stark County Safety Building.
Zero Eyes protects Stark’s school
How does it all work?
Artificial intelligence-powered weapon detection technology developed by Philadelphia-area company Zero Eyes can identify weapons visible through existing cameras, the sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement.
When a potential threat is detected, the system alerts the ZeroEyes operations center, which is then verified by trained experts.
Once verified, the system sends real-time alerts through multiple channels, including text messages, alerts to video administrators, and direct communication from the ZeroEyes Operations Center to local law enforcement for a quick and coordinated response. creates opportunities for
“The integration of this AI weapons detection technology means a proactive approach to ensuring the safety of our children and the safety of our schools,” Meyer said. “This is a testament to our commitment to adopting innovative solutions to protect our communities.”
Marty Bowe, Assistant Superintendent of Stark County Educational Services Center, talks about how ZeroEyes gun detection software can make local schools safer.
Marty Bowe, deputy superintendent of the Stark County Educational Services Center, said he is excited about the potential of the weapon detection and notification system.
“Our problem with school safety is basically what we are responding to,” he said. “We’re not in a position to patrol school boundaries 24/7, so we’re dealing with bad actors coming into our schools. The potential gains for us from this are enormous. amount of time.
Adair Glover, founder and CEO of Wi-Fiber (right), listens during a recent press conference as Stark County Sheriff George Meyer and Inspector Mitchell Polen, chief information officer for the Stark County Sheriff’s Department, listen. ) describes the company’s products.
How to prepare for a school shooting incident
Meyer said most school shootings happen quickly.
Bowe outlined a scenario in which someone armed with a weapon attempts to enroll in one of the county’s 112 schools. Armed school resource officers, who are stationed in most schools, can respond after being alerted and sent to the subject’s exact location.
Meyer said he plans to discuss the system’s availability with superintendents soon.
Adair Glover, founder and CEO of Maryland service provider Wi-Fiber LLC, recently visited Canton and said the company’s technology infrastructure integrates information from cameras and license plate readers. demonstrated how to locate and track suspects. Wi-Fiber works with the sheriff’s office to provide service to local schools and other public entities. Wi-Fi uses ZeroEyes software.
More: Canton City Council puts $60,000 more into Wi-Fi
The demonstration tracked a kidnapping suspect carrying a replica gun from a nearby park to the sheriff’s office.
ZeroEyes Vice President Brian St. Bernard plays a gunman attempting to infiltrate the Stark County Sheriff’s Office during a demonstration of the ZeroEyes software at the Stark County Safety Building.
Meyer said grants may be available to help with the cost of artificial intelligence enhancements to school security systems. He said the assets needed to utilize Wi-Fiber and ZeroEyes technology, such as video feeds and license plate readers, are already in place at the sheriff’s office.
Lt. Mitchell Pollen, chief information officer for the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, explains the uses of artificial intelligence-powered tracking software.
Sheriff’s Lt. Mitchell Pollen said the Wi-Fiber system will save investigators hours of time searching for video recordings. He said a keyword search would quickly find relevant footage.
More information: Canton expands police camera Wi-Fi surveillance system in Northeast
Contact Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County to deploy ZeroEyes software to monitor guns, threats
