Campus Security
Frontier (Hamburg NY) Bus Vandalism Spurs Security Improvements
The extensive bus garage vandalism in the Frontier School District in October has led to a $20,000 security system at the district bus garage. The vandalism forced the shutdown of schools for a day. Add to that the $8,900 damage allegedly caused by the 18-year-old former student charged in the vandalism spree, plus at least another $10,000 in estimated overtime expenses tied to a seven-day-a-week night watch crew. The result is nearly $40,000 in total expenses because of the vandalism – linked to a former student who had dropped out of school. “Our bus transportation security system is up and running, so let’s hope no one tries to get through it,” School Business Manager Richard F. Calipari said. “We’ve secured our facilities and outdoor storage of buses.” The new security system became operational in late November and includes direct video surveillance and alarm trips to a security company. The new cameras also are linked into the Hamburg town police. The latest update came at last week’s School Board meeting. Afterward, interim Superintendent Paul G. Hashem was asked whether the district can recoup some of the money from the student who was charged. But Hashem said the district will not be able to recoup the costs. “He’s a young kid – 18 years old. He’s definitely had a hard life and spent 50 days in jail,” he said. Hashem, after consulting with an assistant district attorney, suggested counseling and community service for the former student. Buses had to be cleaned. […]
Source www.buffalonews.com
Connecticut Panel Recommends New School Safety Standards
Friday December 20, 2013, 6:26 PM HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A state panel is recommending new school security standards in the wake of last year’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. On Friday, the School Safety Infrastructure Council called for a uniform, school security assessment process to be put in place. Until now, school safety has been determined almost entirely by local decision-makers. According to the council’s report, that has led to "a very uneven and unpredictable level of school security design across school district lines." Under this new proposal, which is being presented to the General Assembly for consideration, improved security is recommended in nine areas of school design. They include things such as surveillance of school perimeters, lighting and access control of parking areas, access control to roofs and communication system with mass notification capabilities.
Source www.northjersey.com
Claire Davis Dies From Injuries In Arapahoe High School Shooting
A steady stream of mourners pay their respects at a memorial outside Arapahoe High School in Centennial as news spread that Claire Davis died in the Photo of Claire Davis. Provided by Arapahoe County Sheriff Claire Davis, the 17-year-old who was shot in the head during the Dec. 13 shooting at Arapahoe High School, died Saturday afternoon with her family at her side. The high school senior died at 4:29 p.m. at Littleton Adventist Hospital after eight days on life support. As the news of her death spread, the memorial at the school glowed from freshly lit candles, and more and more visitors gathered in subfreezing temperatures and light snow to say goodbye to Claire. Allison Bruhn, a junior at Arapahoe, arrived Saturday evening just as she had the previous eight days. This time, she carried a poster from the school’s dance team, expressing the members’ love for Claire. Tears welled up in her eyes as she lit candles and hugged friends. "I’ve been coming every night and praying for an hour, praying that Claire would be OK, that she would get better," she said. "Our school loves Claire. She was such a nice and giving person." Shannon Wilhelm, her husband and her 5-year-old son, Deagan, placed flowers at the foot of the fence as snow flurries covered its crush of poster boards, photographs and written messages left by the community. The Wilhelms did not know Claire, but Shannon cried and held her son tightly in her arms. "Being […]
Source www.mercurynews.com
UPDATE: Arapahoe HS Armed School Resource Officer Confronted Shooter
police holster (policemag.com) From a Fox News report of Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson’s press conference: When an armed school resource officer entered the room, Pierson believed he was cornered and turned his gun on himself, Robinson said. The entire attack lasted approximately 80 seconds and was captured by security cameras. Sounds like that SRO stopped what could have possibly been a much bigger tragedy. It’s a result that we expected, based on our own independent testing of school shooting scenarios. If that armed resource officer hadn’t been present, it would have taken even more time for the police to arrive and stop him — time the shooter could have used to killing more people. Instead, in the oft-ridiculed words of Wayne LaPierre, a good guy with a gun stopped the bad guy with a gun.
Source www.thetruthaboutguns.com
NMSU Camera Policy Can Help Security On Campus
Robin Zielinski Sun-News Many of the O LAS CRUCES >> When authorities recovered electronics stolen during a summer burglary at New Mexico State University, they credited a set of clear surveillance images. Captured by security cameras at O’Donnell Hall, the photos went from police to Crime Stoppers to the public. Several tipsters in the community quickly recognized the three young men accused of nabbing a computer and digital projector worth about $2,100, leading police to the items and suspects. But such helpful evidence isn’t always available — sometimes it’s bad luck, sometimes it’s an equipment problem. Robin Zielinski Sun-News John Bazan, New Mexico State University College of Education computer support technician, shows a program on Thursday A lack of uniformity, and sometimes quality, in surveillance equipment throughout NMSU’s vast campus hinders some criminal investigations, officials said. It’s an issue that has developed over the course of several years from a combination of factors, and one that school personnel are working to change. "Standardization is the key," said Lt. Lyn Hodges of the NMSU Police Department. Hodges, a veteran investigator, added that surveillance cameras aren’t an "end all, do all" crime solver, but they play a "huge" role. NMSU officials are hoping that a security camera policy passed by the school’s Board of Regents last May will help make that equipment even more effective. There are about 200 surveillance cameras in use throughout buildings at NMSU, according to a note on an earlier draft of the policy. "Over a lot […]
Source www.lcsun-news.com
NY School Bond Seeks Security Improvements
LAGRANGEVILLE — Residents in the Arlington Central School District can vote Tuesday on a $10.23 million bond proposal to pay for safety improvements, the district said. The bond would cover expenses for several capital projects to improve security and safety at Arlington schools. Several health-related projects also are included, the district said. For a home valued at $300,000 the cost would be about $22 a year over a 16-year bond cycle. The project would not impact taxpayers until the 2016-17 school year, the district said. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Arlington primary and elementary schools. Residents vote at the schools where they typically vote for school district budgets. The proposal has four main goals, Superintendent Brendan Lyons said.
Coachella Valley Unified School District To Install Security Cameras
THERMAL — The Coachella Valley Unified School District will spend as much as $1 million to install security cameras all 21 schools in the east valley district. The school board voted unanimously, 6-0, to solicit bids for the cameras during a meeting on Thursday night. One member, Juanita Duarte, was absent due to illness. Darryl Adams, superintendent of Coachella Valley Unified, said the purchase of cameras was not prompted by any particular crime or incident, but that added security would protect campuses from copper wire thieves, who have struck east valley schools before. Schools in Coachella Valley Unified are currently protected by an alarm system, monitored by Protection 1, a private security company. Campuses are also patrolled by security officers. One school already has security cameras, but the outdated system is ready to be replaced, said Elsa Esqueda, district director of facilities, maintenance and security. The cameras will be funded from the district
Fortifying Pocono Schools
Top Photo A year ago, teachers at one East Stroudsburg elementary school relied on skeleton keys and had no way to lock rooms from the inside. That’s changed as the school completed a lock upgrade over the summer. It’s one of many security improvements, some that were in the works already, ushered in to make Pocono schools safer since the mass shootings at a Newtown, Conn., school a year ago. On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman shot and killed 26 students and staff inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. In the aftermath, districts in the Poconos answered questions about their own mechanisms to stop a potential threat. While educators said they already had plans in place, the shooting prompted a review of security at many districts. The state Legislature also passed a quadrupled $8.5 million school safety bill in response to the Newtown shooting. Under the bill, school districts can apply for funding for school resource officers and security equipment upgrades. An announcement on award recipients is slated for this month. ‘Seconds count’ At Delaware Valley School District, Superintendent John Bell said officials launched $500,000 in security improvements in response to Newtown. The district added a police officer to the elementary school, he said. Before, schools believed officers should focus on older children and threats within instead of an outside shooter as in Newtown. "It totally changed our whole perspective on school security," he said. Bell said the money has also paid for fencing near elementary […]
Source www.poconorecord.com
Colorado’s School Shooting – Over In 80 Seconds
Claire Davis, a 17-year-old senior, was identified by Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson as the girl who was critically wounded Friday, December 13, in a shooting at Arapahoe High School. A student who carried a shotgun into the school in Centennial, Colorado, and asked where to find a specific teacher. The student then opened fire before apparently killing himself, Robinson said. In less than 80 seconds, Karl Pierson "fired one random shot down a hallway," then entered an area where 17-year-old Claire Esther Davis was seated with a friend, "and shot the female victim point-blank" in the head. "There was no time for the victim to run from the shooter," Robinson told reporters on Saturday. That ignited at least three bookshelves, causing smoke to pour into the library. Police: Shooting took less than 2 min. Sheriff: She was an innocent victim Sheriff: School shooter sought revenge Police name Colorado school shooter He then fired a fifth round and ran to the library’s back corner, "and there took his own life." " His intent was evil, and his evil intent was to harm multiple individuals, " Robinson said about Pierson, whose entrance into the school was documented on security cameras, as was the bulk of the one minute, 20 seconds of violence that ensued. He added that, to his knowledge, the shooter and the victim did not know each other. "He was so shooken up, he felt the wind out of the shotgun just blow his hair out, but it […]
Source willwestillhate.blogspot.com
No Security Cameras On Univ Of British Columbia Campus Until Report Completed
A University of British Columbia student studies under fall foliage on the campus in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday October 30, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck ORG XMIT: VCRD114 VANCOUVER — The University of B.C. is considering installing closed circuit cameras in public areas, but won’t do so until a report on campus security is completed next year. An interim report — which won’t be available until late January at the earliest — is part of an initiative to investigate the level of security at UBC after six women were attacked on the Vancouver campus. Lucie McNeill, UBC’s director of public affairs, said Friday that Barry Eccleton, director of campus security, is heading up the task force, which is examining the possibility of cameras along with several other safety measures. Eccleton will be making recommendations in a report to President Stephen Toope. McNeill said the president wouldn’t be making any move regarding security cameras without further consultation with the campus community because of concerns around privacy and civil liberties. "It’s not something he, by fiat, would impose," she said. "There would be some consultation." Since April, there have been six sexual assaults on women on campus. The six attacks occurred April 19, May 19, Sept. 28, Oct. 13, Oct. 19 and Oct. 27. According to a description released by the RCMP, the suspect is Caucasian with slightly dark, tanned or olive skin, in his mid to late 20s, between 1.73 m (5’8") and 1.87 m (6’2"), with a thin build […]
Source www.vancouversun.com
School Campus Security Becomes Increased Priority Since Shootings
School security has become more of a priority — especially for students and parents — in light of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting tragedy in Newtown, Conn. Almost four months before Sandy Hook, gunfire rang out at Perry Hall High School in Baltimore County, leaving one student in the hospital and another behind bars. Mobile users tap here for video. It was Aug. 26, 2012, on the first day of school when police said a Perry Hall student fired the shot that hit his classmate in the school’s cafeteria. The incident brought about a number of changes in and outside of county school buildings, from metal detectors to an increased police presence to adding new security cameras. Already, students from across the district have taken notice. "In the office, they check your ID and they have precautions such as that, but there’s still also the chance that it can happen anywhere," said Isabelle Nowicki-Butschky, a student. The county promoted Dale Rauenzahn to a newly created position as executive director of school safety and security. "All schools have camera systems, all schools have a visitor system, so we are tightening it up so it’s not a phase-in anymore. We do it very quickly and make sure all schools have the same protections across the board," Rauenzahn said. "You had the Perry Hall situation and then not long after that, you had Sandy Hook. How did that change what you had to do?" WBAL-TV 11 News Education Alert reporter Tim […]
Source www.wbaltv.com
UMass Police Officers Sue Department And University Over Surveillance Equipment
NORTHAMPTON – Eighteen University of Massachusetts police officers have filed suits against the university, its police department and various school officials saying the use of surveillance equipment in the UMass police facility has violated their civil rights. The officers, who filed 18 separate complaints Friday, maintain that they were not informed that some of the surveillance equipment in the new facility, which went into use in March 2011, could monitor their personal conversations. The new suits follow one brought last year by UMass police officer Mark Shlosser on behalf of himself and his fellow officers. Shlosser maintained that at least 13 of the 42 video surveillance cameras installed in the new station are capable of recording conversations in various parts of the building, including private conversations between officers. The officers say they did not find out about this until January 2012. They contend that this violates the Massachusetts wiretap statute — which decrees that people must be informed when their conversations are being recorded — as well as their civil rights, and that it constitutes an invasion of their privacy. As a result of Shlosser’s suit, a Hampshire Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction last year barring UMass from recording private conversations in its police station. The complaints name the UMass Board of Trustees, former President Robert L. Caret, former police chiefs Johnny Whitehead and Barbara O’Connor and Deputy Chief Patrick T. Archbald as defendants. In a memo to staff attached to Shlosser’s suit, Archbald insisted that no […]
Source www.masslive.com
The Eyes Have It: Mounties Step Up Video Surveillance Of Parliament Hill
Security cameras are seen on a lightpost following renovations to the entranceways to Parliament Hill Friday December 6, 2013 in Ottawa. It’s the time when tourists usually begin posing for family photos with the newly strung holiday lights on Parliament Hill. This year the festive visits will almost certainly be captured by RCMP lenses, too.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA – It’s the time when tourists usually begin posing for family photos with the newly strung holiday lights on Parliament Hill. This year the festive visits will almost certainly be captured by RCMP lenses, too. The Mounties have recently added new video cameras near pedestrian entrances and a vehicle screening facility along Wellington Street, the boulevard in front of the Parliament Buildings. The RCMP and its Hill security partners have also bowed to the wishes of the federal privacy commissioner by posting signs on bollards that read: 24 hour video surveillance for security of the grounds. The notices mark the end of a behind-the-scenes tussle between the commissioner’s office and the RCMP about whether people visiting Parliament Hill should be advised of the unblinking electronic eyes that expand video coverage of the precinct. “This is a positive outcome stemming from our work to achieve this with the RCMP and others involved in managing Parliament Hill, including Public Works and the National Capital Commission,” said Scott Hutchinson, a spokesman for the privacy commissioner. The commissioner has been concerned for some time about the plans to add 134 cameras to the existing […]
Source www.vancouversun.com
U.S. Marines To Install Security Cameras Worldwide In Bachelor Barracks
Already Public Affairs Officers at Marine bases are trying to put the “best-face-forward” on the announcement this week that security cameras will be installed worldwide in housing complexes for unmarried Marines. The initiative was announced in September as an overall effort to “tighten Marines’ discipline in garrison”. The surveillance cameras will supplement the routine Health-and-Comfort inspections that are a way for commanding officers and leaders to assess living spaces and ensure their Marines and sailors are free of safety hazards, including rowdy Marines, and contraband, including illegal drugs. The cost of outfitting over 550 barracks facilities, worldwide, with security cameras could be pricey with estimates coming in at more than $5 million. In March of this year, Public Affairs Officer Capt. Binford Strickland of the U.S.M.C. made this comment regarding a surprise inspection at Camp Lejeune that netted some 81 violations by junior Marines on base: Deterrent measures are necessary to support prevention programs and enhance personal and mission readiness, according to the Marine Corps Substance Abuse Program, MCO 5300.17. All commanders will use specific measures according to the order to deter substance abuse to include, but not limited to gate checks, announced and unannounced health and comfort inspections of billeting areas and work spaces, and random urinalysis. So now, the 24/7 barracks surveillance cameras, if implemented. will add another layer of security and should add some “peace and quiet” for those Marines who are playing things straight-up. The National Military Examiner publishes military-related/ law enforcement content on this […]
Source www.examiner.com
Israeli Education Ministry To Limit Use Of Security Cameras In Schools
Security camera Cameras will no longer be installed in kindergartens, and in schools they will be allowed in corridors and the schoolyard, but not in gyms or in classrooms. These are some of the new regulations to be issued by the Education Ministry. A ministry document also states that cameras cannot be used to replace on-duty teachers during recess. Moreover, in contrast to the current situation, local authorities will not be able to decide to install cameras in schools in their jurisdiction. Rather, the decision will be up to the principal and the teachers. The new regulations come after years in which more and more security cameras have been installed in hundreds of schools in dozens of cities and towns. The document, outlining the new rules, to be issued by the ministry director general, has not yet been published and is now being scrutinized by the Justice Ministry. However, the head of the Education Ministry’s Psychological Counseling Service, Hannah Shadmi, on Tuesday made the details public at a conference on child and family rights at Sha’arei Mishpat College in Hod Hasharon. Before the Education Ministry will allow a camera to be installed, the new directives will require the principal to explain to the ministry why it is necessary and what other steps he or she has taken to prevent violence in the school. Principals will be limited to using the cameras to prevent violence and not to follow students who are skipping classes. The new regulations also say when […]
Source www.haaretz.com
Report: School Security Equipment Market To Surpass $720M By 2014
As the nation gets ready to mark the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting this week, IHS announced on Wednesday that it is forecasting strong growth in demand for security equipment in U.S. schools over the next several years. According to the research firm, the market size for security equipment in schools will reach $634 million this year and is expected to surpass $720 million by 2014. IHS said that high-profile shootings like Sandy Hook have a “partial impact” on school security spending as there is typically a spike in spending and budgets following these tragedies. “These events force schools to review their existing policies and create threat assessments as well as new policies and procedures. There is no set standard for what schools need to do to prevent these tragedies,” Blake Kozak, senior analyst for access control, fire and security at IHS said in a statement. “Perhaps the key here is to have ongoing discussions and security reviews long after such events fade from media coverage. For example, continued knowledge sharing between school districts and universities to find best practices.” Funding remains one of the biggest barriers of growth when it comes to expanded use of security equipment in schools. IHS said that the U.S. Department of Justice awarded $45 million in Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants this year to schools that planned security enhancements. Video surveillance is expected to be the focal point of school security spending in the years to come […]
Source www.securityinfowatch.com
Fort Jackson Adds Automatic License Plate Recognition Cameras From NDI-RS
Longwood, FL (PRWEB) December 02, 2013 Fort Jackson, a U.S. Army installation in South Carolina, has added two fixed automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras from NDI Recognition Systems (NDI-RS) to its existing ALPR deployments. Fort Jackson is the largest U.S. Army training center, training more than 50,000 soldiers each year. Fort Jackson uses ALPR cameras from NDI-RS to monitor vehicles on the base, which covers more than 52,000 acres. By using cameras from NDI-RS, Fort Jackson is able to take advantage of ALPR servers provided by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which maintains a statewide license plate database for all law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, using software from NDI-RS. This allows South Carolina agencies to implement ALPR from NDI-RS very efficiently and cost-effectively, since there is no cost for back-end servers or user licenses, and no extended implementation period. “By leveraging NDI Recognition System’s relationship with SLED, South Carolina law enforcement agencies and other critical installations like Fort Jackson can quickly implement our ALPR solutions,” said Christopher McKissick, Director of Sales. “Using the NDI-RS back office maintained by SLED, agencies get real-time data from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), and SLED itself. This enhances security and improves safety for the Fort Jackson training center.” About NDI Recognition Systems: NDI Recognition Systems (NDI-RS) is a global provider of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) solutions for law enforcement, homeland security, and critical infrastructure security, as well as other market […]
Source www.prweb.com
University Of Minnesota Pushing Back Against Recent Robberies
Updated: 11/12/2013 10:48 PM Created: 11/12/2013 10:45 PM KSTP.com By: Tim Sherno Following an attempted robbery at gunpoint on the University of Minnesota campus, University President Eric Kahler promised additional measures to ensure the safety of students and faculty. In the letter, Kaler says the University will allocate additional resources to put more police foot and bicycle patrols on or near campus, continue working with Minneapolis police and the Gopher Chauffeur escort program. Kaler says the University is safe, the campus is open to the public and is therefore vulnerable. He said the University will also add to 1700 security cameras already installed on campus. On Monday, a man approached a woman in Anderson Hall, a classroom building on the West Bank campus in Minneapolis, and showed her a gun before demanding her backpack and then fleeing. He remained at large on Tuesday.
Source kstp.com
42 New Cameras Added At Clawson MI School Facilities
If students at Clawson
Hopatcong SC School Security Improvements Underway, Superintendent Says
New video and camera surveillance systems are in place to keep students and staff safe. Hopatcong Borough Schools Administration Building in file photo Hopatcong Borough Schools has undertaken an aggressive review of current operational practices with an eye toward improving building security—and improvements are already underway and ongoing, according to a school district statement. The district’s goal, according to Superintendent of Schools Cynthia Randina, is to ensure greater scrutiny of all visitors, staffers and students entering and exiting Hopatcong school buildings. Several changes to the district’s security system are in place or in progress: Surveillance cameras are being placed in locations not adequately monitored. An access control system is being installed that automatically opens and locks doors on a schedule. It requires the use of access swipe cards by staff members. When a locked door is opened by an unauthorized person, the system registers as an alarm event on surveillance video. Wireless cameras are being planned to monitor the major athletic fields. All main school entrances will be modified to include real-time camera surveillance with intercoms and electronic buzzer entry systems. Randina said security planning will continue to be modified as needed based on suggestions from trained police officers as well as school security personnel.
Source hopatcong-sparta.patch.com