Texas School District Gives First Responders Access to New Cameras

Texas School District Gives First Responders Access to New Cameras

According to the Dumas ISD Police Department, the partnership between the district and law enforcement will help first responders before they arrive to the scene of an emergency by giving them vital information.

Dumas Independent School District is adding new software and security cameras to every school and facility in the district. The cameras will be accessible by Moore County first responders in case of emergencies.

“We had an old security camera system, it just needed to be updated to where we had a better view of the entire campus and campuses and better cameras to be able to view the incidents that are going on,” said Jacob Aragon, DISD Director of Information Technology.

The updates include 500 cameras that will be accessible by first responders, including the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and Moore County Emergency Management.

According to the Dumas ISD Police Department, the partnership between the district and law enforcement will help first responders before they arrive to the scene of an emergency by giving them vital information.

“When they have to go to one of our campuses or facilities, then not only do they know where the threat is, but they also know what type of threat they’re facing,” DISD Chief of Police Larry Payne said.

Access to the cameras can be used in case of a fire, explosion, or active shooter incident, as well as for investigating potential break-ins or property damage.

“At at any time that the first responders need to go to a campus or a facility and there is a danger of loss to property or loss of life, then that becomes an event that the Emergency Operations Center could help us with,” Payne said.

Previously, first responders had less information to work with when arriving at a scene.

“We were just relying on responders showing up to the campus and maybe a teacher or one of the school police directing them where to go,” said Tommy Brooks, Moore County Emergency Management Coordinator. “Or they would just have to start somewhere in the building and start working their way through the building.”

Student safety is the priority for the district.

“No matter the emergency situation that can occur here in the district, at least we can have a plan and we can get our first responders in there safely and get all of our students out as well, safely,” Aragon said. “And limit any damage that can happen to the district and to its students.”

Payne said he hopes the software isn’t used very often, but he’s confident that the district and county law enforcement will be well-prepared should it need to be used.

“The application hopefully will sit dormant for a long time, but if something does happen, they’ll be in a position to get those cameras open in a very quick time,” Payne said.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now