3CATSAILOR
Well-Known Member
LA PLATA, Md. – Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is launching a new safety initiative that incorporates visual gun detection technology with external school cameras. This system, combined with an emergency alert system, initiates a robust response within seconds of a gun detection being verified.
The advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software features a three-step verification process that recognizes a gun. The system features constant video monitoring and is designed to alert CCPS officials, police and other responders when a potential gun is detected.
Alerts are initially sent to a monitoring center for review, and are then shared by phone, email and text message notifications to designated school safety officials for response. The system also provides video, images and location details to first responders. The software does not use facial recognition to protect the privacy of students and staff. Additionally, the live video feeds never leave CCPS buildings.
Real-time detection, according to Jason Stoddard, CCPS director of school safety and security, will provide school officials with valuable time to react to a possible safety threat. “Through system alerts, we will be able to notify police more quickly of a possible safety concern and place a school or campus in an emergency code faster.
The technology provides advance warning before a situation occurs,” Stoddard said. Stoddard also said this additional technology enhances the school system’s comprehensive approach to detect a threat that approaches any CCPS school or facility.
CCPS is in the process of installing the software for outside building cameras systemwide and plans to have all schools and centers activated by the end of this school year. Cost of the program is $207,000 which was funded by the Maryland Center for School Safety’s School Safety Grant Funding program. The grant covers the first two years of licensing for CCPS, which will then be covered by funding from the Office of School Safety and Security.
Another waste of taxpayer money. It is only a matter of time before St. Mary's and or Calvert will use it. On the surface, it sounds great. But as you read further you will see it first goes to a "Monitoring Center". At what cost to the taxpayer? Obviously not mentioned. Then if they THINK a gun is detected, which may or may not be true, it alerts the School system. NOT the police. Why not police if a GUN is detected with this latest artificial intelligence (AI) which is supposed to be so good? Perhaps it isn't trusted enough. And if it isn't trusted enough, that means it is not considered reliable. Again, at what taxpayer expense? I am all for VALID safety enhancements that actually help improve safety. This does not.
For example, by the time the Monitoring Center Contractor calls their point of contact at the school that may or may not be in the office or available and then the police is eventually called a shooting could have already occured. And if it already occured, it is not accomplishing anything. Therefore, not "preventing" a shooting. Sure, sounds good on paper. In reality, a questionable expense to the taxpayer. The current cameras in the schools are separate. All they do is record what is occuring at the time the camera observes the person. It doesn't stop anything. It merely records or photographs what is taking place at a given time. If the person has a Covid mask on, a Hoodie on and sunglasses on, what good is the camera? None. Another waste of taxpayer money. Did the teen that killed another teen at Great Mills HIgh School go through the "Security" Vestibule at the school? Nope! Another waste of money. The vestibules are only used by people that have good intentions. If there are Vestibules, then EVERYONE should go through it who comes in the school. The school does have fences to block off sections of the school when they want to. They don't use it for some reason.
The advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software features a three-step verification process that recognizes a gun. The system features constant video monitoring and is designed to alert CCPS officials, police and other responders when a potential gun is detected.
Alerts are initially sent to a monitoring center for review, and are then shared by phone, email and text message notifications to designated school safety officials for response. The system also provides video, images and location details to first responders. The software does not use facial recognition to protect the privacy of students and staff. Additionally, the live video feeds never leave CCPS buildings.
Real-time detection, according to Jason Stoddard, CCPS director of school safety and security, will provide school officials with valuable time to react to a possible safety threat. “Through system alerts, we will be able to notify police more quickly of a possible safety concern and place a school or campus in an emergency code faster.
The technology provides advance warning before a situation occurs,” Stoddard said. Stoddard also said this additional technology enhances the school system’s comprehensive approach to detect a threat that approaches any CCPS school or facility.
CCPS is in the process of installing the software for outside building cameras systemwide and plans to have all schools and centers activated by the end of this school year. Cost of the program is $207,000 which was funded by the Maryland Center for School Safety’s School Safety Grant Funding program. The grant covers the first two years of licensing for CCPS, which will then be covered by funding from the Office of School Safety and Security.
Another waste of taxpayer money. It is only a matter of time before St. Mary's and or Calvert will use it. On the surface, it sounds great. But as you read further you will see it first goes to a "Monitoring Center". At what cost to the taxpayer? Obviously not mentioned. Then if they THINK a gun is detected, which may or may not be true, it alerts the School system. NOT the police. Why not police if a GUN is detected with this latest artificial intelligence (AI) which is supposed to be so good? Perhaps it isn't trusted enough. And if it isn't trusted enough, that means it is not considered reliable. Again, at what taxpayer expense? I am all for VALID safety enhancements that actually help improve safety. This does not.
For example, by the time the Monitoring Center Contractor calls their point of contact at the school that may or may not be in the office or available and then the police is eventually called a shooting could have already occured. And if it already occured, it is not accomplishing anything. Therefore, not "preventing" a shooting. Sure, sounds good on paper. In reality, a questionable expense to the taxpayer. The current cameras in the schools are separate. All they do is record what is occuring at the time the camera observes the person. It doesn't stop anything. It merely records or photographs what is taking place at a given time. If the person has a Covid mask on, a Hoodie on and sunglasses on, what good is the camera? None. Another waste of taxpayer money. Did the teen that killed another teen at Great Mills HIgh School go through the "Security" Vestibule at the school? Nope! Another waste of money. The vestibules are only used by people that have good intentions. If there are Vestibules, then EVERYONE should go through it who comes in the school. The school does have fences to block off sections of the school when they want to. They don't use it for some reason.
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