Virginia District Adds Proactive Layer Of Protection And Situational Awareness For Students, Faculty, And Visitors
Colonial Heights School District has implemented ZeroEyes’ AI-powered gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software to strengthen campus safety and enhance emergency response capabilities. The deployment adds a proactive layer of protection designed to identify potential gun-related threats early and provide actionable intelligence to school officials and local law enforcement.
A Community-Focused District With Safety At Its Core
Located just south of Richmond, the district serves approximately 3,000 students and 600 full-time and part-time staff across five schools and a technical center within an eight-square-mile area. Known for its close-knit, community-focused environment, the district has long emphasized student safety through close collaboration with local law enforcement and strong relationships between schools and families.
How ZeroEyes Enhances Situational Awareness
ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection software integrates with existing digital security cameras. When a firearm is detected, images are immediately sent to the ZeroEyes Operations Center, the industry’s only fully in-house, U.S.-based monitoring center staffed 24/7/365 by trained U.S. military and law enforcement veterans. Once a threat is verified, alerts and actionable intelligence — including visual descriptions, gun type, and last known location — are dispatched to local law enforcement and school administrators within seconds.
“One of the things that makes Colonial Heights special is how deeply connected our schools are to the community,” said Steven Neece, School Board Chairman for Colonial Heights Public Schools.
“We work hand in hand with our local police department every day, and programs like DARE at our elementary schools help build trust from an early age. ZeroEyes adds an extra layer of security without putting up barriers, and it fits into our safety strategy in a way that strengthens both protection and connection.”
Advancing A Layered School Safety Strategy
The district has already implemented multiple security measures, including a School Resource Officer or School Security Officer in every building, a comprehensive visitor check-in system, and extensive monitored interior and exterior surveillance cameras. The addition of ZeroEyes represents the next step in advancing a layered safety strategy.
“Colonial Heights School District has taken meaningful steps to prioritize the safety of its students and staff,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes.
“We’re proud to support their efforts with a solution that helps mitigate gun-related incidents and gives first responders the critical time and information they need to save lives.”
ZeroEyes provides human-verified AI gun detection software that integrates with existing security cameras to identify visible firearms and deliver real-time, actionable intelligence to local staff and law enforcement. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and founded by Navy SEALs and technologists, ZeroEyes helps organizations reduce response times and enhance safety across schools, government, healthcare, and commercial facilities.
What Is ZeroEyes AI Gun Detection? ZeroEyes is a human-verified AI gun detection platform that integrates with existing security cameras to identify visible firearms and provide rapid, actionable intelligence.
How Does The System Alert Authorities? When a gun is detected, images are reviewed by trained professionals at the ZeroEyes Operations Center. Verified threats trigger alerts to school administrators and local law enforcement within seconds.
Does ZeroEyes Replace Existing School Security Measures? No. ZeroEyes is designed to complement existing security layers, such as security officers, visitor management systems, and surveillance cameras.
Why Did Colonial Heights School District Adopt This Technology? The district adopted ZeroEyes to enhance situational awareness, reduce response times, and strengthen its overall approach to school safety without disrupting the learning environment.
