Three Village School District to implement AI weapon detection software for security cameras

By William Stieglitz

Ever since the October incident when a loaded gun found its way into Ward Melville High School — a student’s father having left it in a backpack identical to the student’s, which the student accidentally brought to school — parents have been vocal about a need for increased security. In response, at the Oct. 23 board of education meeting, Security Coordinator Jack Blaum said that the district would be considering AI security technology, and at the Jan. 22 meeting, the plan to use ZeroEyes was expounded upon.

ZeroEyes software works by connecting to a school’s pre-existing security cameras. The AI analyzes thousands of images per second, and if it detects what it thinks is a firearm, the image is sent to a ZeroEyes technician to review. If the technician verifies that the image is accurate, he or she notifies the school administrators and local law enforcement, all in a process expected to take 3-5 seconds. Three Village will be the first Long Island school district to implement this system, where it will operate in all school buildings as well as the North Country Administration Building, and will cost the district $112,000.

At the October meeting, Blaum touted the AI system as a more efficient solution than metal detectors, which he said by contrast would take more time to install, need to be located at every door as well as at outside and require armed staff day and night. At the January meeting, Superintendent Kevin Scanlon said the ZeroEyes system will provide “24/7/365 coverage” and won’t require the district to purchase more cameras than normal, as additional cameras are already added each year.

 “If even part of a weapon is spotted with this system,” Scanlon said, “the notification goes in. And we’re talking a matter of seconds, from when it’s viewed and when we’re notified.” He also said the ZeroEyes system fits with all present software and hardware in the district — a concern which was relevant in Philadelphia last year, when Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority learned the cameras used for their ZeroEyes pilot program weren’t fully compatible. According to Scanlon, it is expected that other Suffolk districts will follow suit and use ZeroEyes, with BOCES being involved.

The ZeroEyes system does have limits, as it can only detect guns that are within a camera’s view. ZeroEyes Chairman and CEO Mike Lahiff said, “Good security comes in layers. Do I think we can really help in certain situations? Absolutely. But are we the end all be all? No.” 

Three Village’s other layers currently include security guards, sign-in procedures, license readers, background checks on all employees and additional measures that are kept confidential to avoid counteraction. The school district is also considering arming their security guards, though it is hotly debated among parents and community members whether this would help or hinder school safety, with hundreds having taken up each side of the argument via online petitions.

Board member David McKinnon, sharing a study from the American Medical Association sent to the BOE by a parent, said the study found the rate of death was 2.83 times greater in schools with an armed guard than without. The study attributes this to school shooters actively being suicidal, resulting in armed guards acting as a potential incentive rather than a deterrent.

 “The evidence,” McKinnon said, “is it’s not clear that having armed guards is going to help very much. But I’m not completely convinced it would hurt either.” He suggested polling school employees, parents and students on their views. “However this plays out, it would be better if everyone felt they had some say in this decision.”