Fort Smith schools to use AI weapon detection cameras to keep students safe

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    FORT SMITH, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — The Fort Smith Public School District will use artificial intelligence-based weapon detection cameras for the 2024-2025 school year.

The school district currently has more than 1,500 surveillance cameras at schools and administration buildings.

Deputy Superintendent Martin Mahan told 40/29 News that the AI software will initially be used on existing surveillance cameras outside, in strategic locations at every school campus and more.

“Our bigger footprint in districts, schools and even some of our smaller schools will have some of the camera systems inside because the unique capacity of this camera system is it will continue to track the threat and it will give us locations exactly where to pinpoint the threat,” Mahan said. “Unfortunately, in these types of events, seconds are lives. So anything we can add that gains us seconds for our students and staff is another level of threat mitigation.”

According to the Zeroeyes company website, which has partnered with the school district, the surveillance video footage will be analyzed in real time to identify a person armed with a weapon.

“And then that video will be sent in for analysis to a group of trained individuals with law enforcement background, military background; they will assess it and immediately determine if it is a real threat to our staffers and students and notify us immediately,” Mahan said.

The AI weapon detection system will cost the Fort Smith Public School District $156,000 per year for the next six years. The school district is hoping to use grant dollars to help cover some of the expenses, as well as existing operating budget funds.

Mahan told 40/29 News that it was the most feasible safety upgrade to implement in the shortest amount of time.

“Because it’s going to work with our existing cameras, and the the actual weapons detection systems will be monitored by a third party, so there’s no staffing requirement for us,” he said.

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