Vassar Public Schools deploys AI-based gun detection platform

Sept. 19, 2022

ZeroEyes announced that its AI-based gun detection video analytics platform has been chosen by Vassar Public Schools in Michigan to help protect students and faculty against gun-related violence.

Layered on top of the schools’ existing security cameras, ZeroEyes’ proprietary software will automatically identify guns the moment they become visible and alert school administrators and safety personnel within 3 to 5 seconds.

“We are proud to partner with the forward-looking district of Vassar Public Schools to protect students and save lives,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. “I will add that Michigan’s Act 144 includes a school aid bill that allocates $160 per every student towards security technology, but the three- to four-week deadline is quickly approaching for districts to opt in for it. ZeroEyes’ solution only costs 15% to 30% of the available state funding, depending on volume, so we highly recommend that parents encourage their district superintendents to fill out the web form and claim their slice of the aid. In fact, any Michigan school that opts-in for ZeroEyes today can have the solution installed immediately and pay later when they receive their funding.”

Vassar Public Schools made the decision to engage ZeroEyes shortly after the November 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School, located 45 minutes away.  ZeroEyes is one of several solutions that Vassar has put in place to keep its students safe. 

“ZeroEyes is not just an AI solution; the company has retired military and law enforcement experts monitoring every single suspicious frame 24 hours a day,” said Dorothy Blockwell, Superintendent of Vassar Public Schools. “This is a huge deal.  It is the only solution we have encountered that’s actually proactive. We have expert eyes watching for possible brandished guns at the school at all times and communicating threats to law enforcement immediately. When I look at the time and effort that ZeroEyes puts into protecting our students, I’m very excited about what we’re getting for our money.” 

ZeroEyes was founded by a group of former Navy SEAL team leaders that used hundreds of thousands of proprietary images and videos to train its AI to be the most comprehensive and superior gun detection technology on the market. It has been implemented in 19 states across public K-12 districts to protect students and staff, including Oxford High School, which selected ZeroEyes for a pilot program earlier this year. 

ZeroEyes’ software integrates with schools’ existing IP security cameras and video analytics to detect weapons in real time. Former U.S. military and law enforcement specialists monitor every detection 24/7/365 from the in-house ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC) in order to deliver accurate and actionable intelligence on active shooter incidents, including the gunman’s appearance, clothing, weapon and real-time location. Furthermore, ZeroEyes’ AI does not record, store, or share video or images of students or others, ensuring that privacy is maintained.