By Andrea Arens
You never think violence can happen in a small town until it does.
Last week, there was a gun threat at Peotone High School, and it wasn’t the first.
Technology can help protect, though. New AI (artificial intelligence) gun detection software can recognize a gun within seconds and send alerts to phones of officials and law enforcement.
A demonstration was held on Omnilert AI gun detection software at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School on February 15.
The software worked, too. It identified a George Macias of MDI Security walking through different interior and exterior locations of the school in less than one second of being visible to the camera.
An alert was immediately sent to participants via text message and through an Omnilert app on phones, showing a still image and short video of the suspected shooter, along with map, camera name, and location.
The Omnilert Gun Detect software could then lock doors, notify police, alert students and staff onsite, and provide real time location and details of the shooter to first responders – all with a touch of a button on a mobile device.
“Using the Omnilert solution in this real-life demo, it took only seconds from the time the shooter was identified to initiate a robust and swift response designed to prevent loss of life,” said George Macias, president, MDI Security Systems. “It’s this fast reaction time, combined with the intelligence the system can feed to first responders that will make the difference during an active shooter situation.” Macias added, “I’m just trying to protect the kids.”
“The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we view technologies, such as visual gun detection, as an important part of a layered preventative strategy in helping schools achieve that goal,” said Matt Vosberg, BBCHS Superintendent. “Schools already have cameras located strategically around campus and, by integrating an AI software, they can transform them into 24/7 monitors for gun threats that combine with a communications platform to initiate a response in mere seconds.”
“What sets Omnilert’s active shooter solution apart is its unique combination of early gun detection, human verification, mass communication, and an automated response,” said Dave Fraser, CEO of Omnilert. “While detecting a gun threat is the first critical step, what happens after that in terms of a swift and robust response is what will ultimately save lives – and that is where we can make a difference in Illinois schools.”
From Omnilert on how Visual Gun Detection Works:
Omnilert Gun Detect is an advanced AI software that detects and recognizes a wide range of handguns, shotguns, rifles, and military-style weapons in various environments, indoors and outside, day and night. The software provides full privacy to schools by not using facial recognition on subjects being recorded, and the video feed does not leave the school premises. Omnilert’s software easily can be integrated with any IP-based camera systems and can monitor spaces that traditional gun detection technologies miss, such as outside spaces. This solution gives emergency response teams advance warning before shots are fired and delivers precise information on the location and visuals of the potential shooter.
Unlike other options that merely identify weapons, Omnilert Gun Detect recognizes a firearm and the human movements and behavior consistent with gun violence, and then automates a full response plan within seconds to help keep people safe.
About MDI Security PLLC
Established in 2008, MDI Security, PLLC, is a nationwide security provider and integrator. With expanded offices now into Nevada, Colorado, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Utah, they currently are servicing clients in 48 states with their national team. Simply put, they have the strategy, team, and equipment for any project size or duration. New locations coming in 2023 include Florida, Georgia, Montana, and Tennessee. The company is headquartered in Illinois. For more information, visit https://www.mdiprotects.com.
About Omnilert
Omnilert is transforming public safety with the industry’s most effective AI-powered visual active shooter prevention solution that combines early visual gun detection with a proven rapid response that can save time and lives. The Omnilert platform empowers existing security cameras with monitoring software that can identify gun threats at first sight and then activate automated response capabilities that maximize each critical second. Once a gun is verified, this could include locking doors, notifying first responders, sending images, location and video of the shooter, and sending alerts and guidance to anyone near the situation, all in mere seconds. Founded in 2004, Omnilert is the trusted partner to thousands of customers across multiple industries, including K-12 schools, higher education, government, healthcare, manufacturing and retail. The company is headquartered in Virginia. For more information, visit www.omnilert.com.