SaferWatch is a mobile-based security system that was built to provide a higher level of safety for individuals, institutions, corporations, public venues, and communities.
The company’s goal is to stop, or better yet, prevent acts of violence by bridging the communication gap between citizens who have information and first responders who need that information. The technology makes it easy to connect, modernizing the way people report incidents and tips to 911 centers, law enforcement and other public safety agencies.
SaferWatch’s mission is to prevent incidents and protect people and organizations by implementing innovative technology that improves communication and reduces emergency response time.
In this interview with Campus Safety, SaferWatch CEO and Co-Founder Geno Reofaro discusses his company’s technology and how it can be used in education and healthcare.
Campus Safety: What is the top panic alarm/mobile duress system or app from your company, and what makes it special? How does it apply to healthcare facilities, schools and/or higher education security, public safety and/or emergency management?
Geno Reofaro, Photo courtesy SaferWatch
Geno Reofaro: Digital and physical buttons are both widely used and highly effective in turning minutes into seconds during life-threatening emergencies with the SaferWatch app, in addition to keeping staff and communities informed of important non-emergency events.
The SaferWatch program applies to K-12 and higher education, law enforcement, government buildings, corporate safety, hospitals and healthcare, HOAs and communities, places of worship, public venues and events, retail locations, and airports and travel. All of these industries require real-time communication during emergencies and the ability to quickly send out safety alerts to their users, internally assessing threats with intel that comes into the SaferWatch Command Center.
CS: What other products or offerings would you like to highlight, and what are some of their qualities and benefits?
Reofaro: SaferWatch offers live video streaming straight to 911 that automatically initiates an emergency response. It allows the user to show in real-time what is happening so that 911 knows exactly who and how much to dispatch while constantly guiding the emergency reporter.
Related Video: NYC Bodegas Install SaferWatch Panic Buttons Amid Surge in Violent Attacks
SaferWatch LTE Panic Button — the wearable, discreet panic button designed for employees across all industries — offers convenience, safety, and reliability. The compact and lightweight button is extremely durable. Features include multi-mode location accuracy with GPS, wireless connectivity throughout the U.S., audio speaker and mic for two-way communication, rechargeable battery typically lasts up to four days, compact size, discreet and wearable, water resistant with an IP57 rating.
CS: How do your company and its offerings address the needs of hospitals, schools and/or universities?
Reofaro: Hospitals: SaferWatch helps healthcare and hospital management teams improve health and safety inside these establishments. The SaferWatch application provides the best tools and resources to ensure immediate communication between departments or outside help in an emergency. Users can also send mass notifications to other users to ensure the health and safety of staff and patients in the event of an emergency, or to prevent an emergency from occurring. SaferWatch allows all users to report suspicious activity by documenting photo and video evidence in the event they believe a crime may occur. These tips are sent to law enforcement anonymously to protect the user’s identity. The information conveyed may include suspicious patient or visitor behaviors or harassment inside the workplace. Effective threat assessment software enhances communication and tip reporting.
Schools/Universities: Emergencies or suspicious activity happen every day in schools across the nation. The key to protecting children and educators is proper planning and protocol. SaferWatch provides educational establishments, from pre-K-12 to higher education, with the tools to react in emergency and non-emergency situations. These resources allow immediate and direct responses, engagement, and communication during any crisis.
SaferWatch provides advanced protection for schools and colleges established across the country. The SaferWatch mobile app allows users to report emergency and non-emergency events in real-time. SaferWatch’s capabilities applied to schools include anonymous tip reporting, threat reporting, incident management, drill tracking, threat assessment, mobile panic alert system, mass notification alert system, and check-ins.
CS: What else is new or noteworthy about your company for 2024?
Reofaro: SaferWatch recently signed multiple state-wide contracts and has significantly expanded their coverage in New York City, working with the NYPD, school and now even retail locations like bodegas and grocery stores. SaferWatch is also now implemented throughout the State of Hawaii. SaferWatch integrates with both the Axon and Motorola Solutions platforms.
CS: What is your company’s overall value proposition to schools, universities and/or hospitals? Why should they do business with you?
Reofaro: SaferWatch currently covers more than 6,000 locations throughout the United States and has partnerships with more than 200 law enforcement agencies. With coverage for more than 10 million citizens, SaferWatch products and solutions are battle tested to deliver reliability when it matters most. The SaferWatch App is the No. 1 mobile security app in America for protecting thousands of locations and civilians across the country. Turn minutes into seconds during life-threatening emergencies with SaferWatch.
With an increasing number of threats, mass shootings, and unthinkable incidents, government officials, parents, law enforcement officers, administrators, and first responders need to do everything in our power to protect our people.
The significance of the SaferWatch app is that it saves time, a valuable tool when seconds count. With a smartphone, the user can send an alert to multiple agencies in the event of an emergency.
With more complete intelligence, staff, first responders, and law enforcement can investigate suspicious activity, prevent critical incidents, and reduce response times to provide a higher level of safety for everyone.
CS: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Reofaro: SaferWatch’s sole purpose is to stop and prevent tragedies. Following the Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando Florida, Geno Roefaro, CEO and Co-Founder Shannon Donev, started SaferWatch with the belief that more could be done to help stop and prevent these incidents from happening. To date, SaferWatch is now in more than 6,000 locations throughout the country, partners with hundreds of law enforcement agencies and has been credited with stopping and preventing hundreds of incidents, ranging from reducing crime to suicide prevention, to overall organization safety. saferwatchapp.com.
