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.

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