Charles Co. Public Schools to add AI weapon detectors

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) announced Wednesday plans to add artificial intelligence weapon detectors in an effort to keep students and staff safe. 

The school district selected Virginia company Omnilert for the scanners. Omnilert was founded in 2004 after 19-year-old Jeanne Clery was murdered in her college dorm. 

Since 2004, Omnilert's gun detection and emergency mass notification system has been used in schools, healthcare and more. According to the Omnilert website, the company introduced the first visual gun detection solution in 2020. Omnilert claims it is the industry's only visual gun detection technology to feature a proven emergency notification system (ENS). 

“With 2022 breaking new records for the most school shootings, districts around the country are looking for ways to mitigate the threat and our visual AI technology turns their existing security cameras into a preventative system that detects guns and immediately initiates a life-saving response,” said Dave Fraser, CEO of Omnilert. "In the majority of incidents, including Uvalde and Sandy Hook, the shooters were outside and visible on camera, so visual AI can extend detection beyond the building, and give more time to avert disaster. We are proud to see CCPS taking a leadership position in protecting their students and staff and setting an example for other schools.”

CCPS has already begun installing Omnilert Gun Detect with outside building cameras and plans to have it activated systemwide by the end of the current school year. 

The school district educates more than 25,000 students across 22 elementary and nine middle schools, seven high schools, and five education centers. They also staff more than 3,000 employees. 

“This technology provides real-time detection and advance warning before a situation occurs, which provides our school officials with valuable time to react to a possible safety threat,” said Jason Stoddard, CCPS director of school safety and security. “We chose this software because it was the only solution that could provide the unique combination of early gun detection, human verification, mass communication, and an automated response. Each of these features help strengthen the school system’s comprehensive approach to keeping our children and staff safe.”

The technology uses advanced AI software that detects handguns and long guns. Once a gun is detected, it sends an alert to a designated person that could be either Omnilert’s monitoring centers or the customer’s security operations center to verify detections. 

If the threat is confirmed, the system will then send an alert that will call police and notify those in harm's way.