Stark County uses artificial intelligence to detect firearms in public spaces

CANTON – The power of artificial intelligence is being brought to help schools and law enforcement agencies in Stark County detect and stop people with guns from shooting in schools and other public buildings.

In a recent press conference, Sheriff George T. Maier and industry representatives explained how new software systems make it possible to monitor video feeds from schools and other locations for visible weapons, allowing law enforcement to address threats sooner.

“That buys us time,” said Maier. “We need time. They follow the scenarios in the national media about school shootings. All are over in a very short time. Reducing this response time helps us save lives and keep people safe.”

He said that in almost every school shooting, shooters have brandished guns as they enter schools.

“There should be no one being carried openly into a school. This is of course a warning signal for us,” said Maier.

ZeroEyes to protect Stark schools

How does it all work?

Philadelphia-area company ZeroEyes’ artificial intelligence-based gun detection technology can identify visible weapons using existing cameras, the sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement.

As soon as a potential threat is detected, the system alerts the ZeroEyes operations center, where the inspection is carried out by trained professionals.

Once confirmed, the system sends real-time alerts through multiple channels, including text messages, video manager notifications and direct communications from the ZeroEyes operations center to local law enforcement, creating the possibility of a rapid and coordinated response.

“Integrating this AI weapon detection technology represents a proactive approach to ensuring the safety of our children and our schools,” Maier said. “It is a testament to our commitment to using innovative solutions to protect our community.”

Marty Bowe, deputy director of the Stark County Educational Services Center, said he is excited about the potential of the weapon detection and notification system.

“Our whole problem with school safety is that we are basically reactive,” he said. “We don’t have the ability to patrol the perimeter of our schools 24/7, so we’re in a situation where we’re responding to a bad actor coming into our schools. What this potentially gives us is enormous amounts of time.”

How to Prepare for a School Shooting

Maier said most school shootings unfold quickly.

Bowe outlined a scenario in which a person with a gun could attempt to enter one of the county’s 112 schools. An armed school resource officer, present in most schools, could respond after being alerted and dispatched to the individual’s exact location.

Maier said the availability of the system will be discussed with school leaders soon.

Adair Grover, founder and CEO of Maryland-based service provider Wi-Fiber LLC, recently visited Canton to demonstrate how his company’s technology infrastructure integrates information from cameras and license plate readers to detect and track a suspect. Wi-Fiber partners with the Sheriff’s Office to offer the service to local schools and other public facilities. Wi-Fiber uses ZeroEyes software.

More: The Canton City Council is providing an additional $60,000 for WiFi

The demonstration followed a suspect in a hypothetical kidnapping from a nearby park to the sheriff’s office, where he was carrying a replica gun.

Maier said grants may be available to help schools fund artificial intelligence improvements to their security systems. He said the resources needed to utilize Wi-Fiber and ZeroEyes’ technology, such as video feeds and license plate readers, already exist at the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s Inspector Mitchell Paulen said the Wi-Fiber system saved investigators hours of searching through video recordings. He said a keyword search will allow them to retrieve relevant footage in moments.

More: Canton expands Wi-Fi surveillance system with police cameras in the northeast

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County uses ZeroEyes software to monitor for weapons and threats