Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) has implemented Omnilert, a weapons detection system, in all schools in the county. The system has been in operation since May 23.

Omnilert uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognize firearms and any similarly shaped objects seen through cameras. If a suspicious object is located, the program will immediately notify the Baltimore County Police Department as well as the school’s Resource Officer (SRO) and administration team.

“We all get a picture sent to our phone and we will look at it to see if it actually is a firearm of some kind,” says Officer A. Burton, Dulaney High School’s SRO.

The system has been thoroughly tested for precision; however, it is sensitive, occasionally mistaking other objects for firearms. 

“We’ve been notified of an umbrella that looks similar to an actual rifle,” says Burton.

Once receiving the notification, the image of the suspicious object is carefully evaluated to confirm whether it is a firearm or not.

Facebook

Twitter

Email

Print