There are emergency systems in place for fires in buildings, so why not have one for an active shooter?
Battelle, an independent and development research nonprofit, is doing just that after testing an emergency-shooting response system, the Battelle SiteGuard Active Shooter Response (ASR), Battelle said on Tuesday.
“While we may not be able to prevent these tragic shootings, we can give law-enforcement technology that helps them respond more safely and effectively,” Ed Jopeck, senior program manager for Battelle and a leading security expert, said. “In 10 or 15 years, building systems like SiteGuard ASR will be as common as smoke-detection and fire-safety systems are today. They can help authorities to locate, detect and respond to gunfire more effectively, which can help save lives.”
The system will react similar to smoke detectors. Once a shot is detected, the system will send out 911 calls and notifications en masse. In addition to gunshot sensors, the system will have building-security and communications systems to reach out to the police and people within the building.
The system was recently tested successfully at a high school near Columbus, Ohio.
“If you have a pretty good idea where the active shooter is located, you can concentrate the resources and get them inside as fast as possible,” Lt. Ron Wright of the Reynoldsburg (Ohio) Police Department said. “Every little bit helps to provide the quickest and most efficient response.”
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