N.Y. School Districts Integrate Emergency Systems with Police
The system is available to all schools in Nassau County.
Officials in Nassau County, N.Y. announced security upgrades designed to tighten school districts’ relationship with local law enforcement agencies.
The upgrades allow the Nassau County Police Department to access school security cameras and give school officials a direct line of communication with police through a smartphone app, reports liherald.com.
“This new comprehensive school security program provides a direct link to a new NCPD communications bureau supervisor that will automatically access camera, card systems, mapping and door locks,” Senior Policy Advisor to the County Executive Brian Nevin says. “This direct link is opened once a school administrator clicks the alarm button on a mobile device. The communications bureau supervisor will be able to provide responding officers with real-time intelligence as they will be accessing school cameras, door locks and more.”
Police will be notified of threats at the school by the app as a sort of panic alarm.
Any school district in Nassau County will be able to use the system but will need to work with local police to share floor plans, classroom images, live camera access and more.
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The application is free for schools but cost the county $1.5 million.
Many district superintendents in the county expressed interest in adopting the system, but will have to meet with school boards before making any decisions.
“Concept-wise, I’m supportive of any technology that is obviously going to ensure or support more safety procedures and assist us in handling an emergency,” Valley Stream 30 Union Free School District Superintendent Nicholas Stirling says. “I’m looking forward to hearing more about the actual technology and what’s entailed.”
Most of the districts in the county already have emergency drills in place already and conduct safety drills with local police.
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