Massachusetts City to Add Surveillance Software to Schools

Massachusetts City to Add Surveillance Software to Schools

Taunton plans to spend the funds on new software to allow police officers to access surveillance cameras inside campus buildings.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • November 08, 2018

Taunton, Mass., plans to improve security in its schools by adding new video surveillance software using newly awarded federal grant money.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced Friday the award of $1.3 million in federal grant money to improve law enforcement equipment. Among the awarded communities was the city of Taunton, which received $20,000 in grant funding.

Taunton plans to spend the funds on new software to allow police officers to access surveillance cameras inside campus buildings.

"This would be the bridge between our network and their network," Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye said.

Hoye said the city wanted to be proactive and improve security for all its campuses.

"Taunton's a city with some older schools that don't have the modern designs, so anything we can do to kind of get around it and kind of close that gap with some of the newer buildings, we're gonna take advantage of that," he said.

The city had previously allocated the funds for the purchase and installation of the software. That money will not be used for more video surveillance and other security improvements in more than a dozen Taunton schools.

"It's so critical, I mean our children are our most vital asset and we have to protect our children and our teachers in those buildings," Hoye added.

Hoye said the city aims to have the new software installed and running within the new few months.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular