CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A technology called “ZeroEyes” is being used at schools across the U.S. to help detect a gun on campus and quickly alert school leaders and first responders through the use of artificial intelligence.
“It takes about three seconds from the time a gun enters the frame of a camera to the time an alert is sent,” a video from the ZeroEyes company says.
The company was founded by a group of retired Navy Seals in response to the Parkland shooting.
“When a shooter walks up and they take out a weapon, the ZeroEyes system will pick that weapon up, and our military trained operations experts verify every detection before sending out alerts to local staff, security and the local 911 center to get the alert to first responders,” the video says.
“All we do is identify guns. We do it the best in the world. So what we built is specifically for one layer in a multi-layered security approach,” ZeroEyes co-founder Sam Alaimo said.
Alaimo says his company is scrambling to keep up with demand, with clients now in 42 states, including Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Berkshire Local Schools in Northeast Ohio was the first district in the Buckeye State to install this software in its cameras.
“The fact that you can get an alert within seconds just seemed too valuable to pass up,” Superintendent John Stoddard said.
The district hasn’t had any real emergencies yet but Superintendent Stoddard says the ZeroEyes team has caught false alarms, such as a coach’s toddler playing with a toy gun.
“So I got a call from the command center saying there was a notification. We’re verifying that it’s a toy gun. Here it is. And then I got a picture of the image, where it was and I was able to go talk to the coach right away,” Stoddard said.
FOX19 NOW went to Lakota East High School to see what its lead school resource officer, retired Butler County Deputy Doug Hale, thinks about the technology.
Hale also heads up the Ohio School Resource Officer’s Association, so he’s looped into all the security options getting pitched out there.
“First responders on scene have access to this information before shots are fired. That will allow them to go directly to the shooter and prevent more violence from occurring. Drop your weapon now! Drop the gun! Drop the gun!,” the ZeroEyes video explains.
“The technology is real good,” said Hale. “This is a lot to have to check at all times so it sounds like this AI software could be your eyes for you.”
Schools have the option to install the ZeroEyes software in as few or as many cameras as deemed necessary.
it usually costs $20 to $60 per camera screen per month Alaimo said.
He says a longer contract can help lower the cost.
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