On Monday, drones zipped through the hallways of Lancaster Middle School, not for recreational fun, but rather, for a serious demonstration of safety in active shooter situations.
The demonstration by Campus Guardian Angel featured three drones navigating the school’s staircases at speeds of around 50 miles per hour.
The Austin-based company aims to expand the use of their emergency response drones in schools throughout the Dallas area, following successful implementations in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and in Boerne ISD and Waco ISD.
CEO Justin Marston explained the drones’ primary purpose: to act as a distraction for potential assailants while law enforcement is en route.
He stated that if an assailant becomes preoccupied with attempting to take down a drone, it could reduce the time spent causing harm to others.
“The thing is, we get shot, we don’t care. We’re just a lump of plastic, so we’re prepared to take any risk that’s necessary,” Marston remarked, emphasizing the drones’ sacrificial role in emergencies.
Each drone comes equipped with a distinct capability: one can locate and track the assailant’s movements, while another is designed to distract and delay their actions.
Trained drone pilots manage each device, ensuring that the response is cohesive and effective during a crisis.
In addition to their tracking and distracting features, the drones carry less-than-lethal pepper balls aimed at temporarily disarming an assailant until law enforcement arrives.
They also possess a mechanism capable of breaking through glass if needed, allowing them to engage an assailant from a safe distance.
Once law enforcement reaches the scene, the drones’ capabilities extend to aiding officers unfamiliar with the school layout, thus potentially accelerating their response time and improving safety for everyone involved.
State Senator Royce West, D-Dallas, echoed this need for innovative solutions to ensure student safety in Texas schools.
He highlighted the urgency of devising effective countermeasures for intruders, referencing past incidents like the Uvalde tragedy, which showcased the hesitance of school resource officers to act.
“We have to protect the children. We have to be able to disrupt intruders,” West asserted, noting the risks faced by officers on duty.
Cost remains a crucial factor for school districts considering this drone program.
Campus Guardian Angel shares that implementing the drone program would require an investment of $4 per student each month, alongside an initial cost of $15,000 for a box of six drones.
Marston emphasized their commitment to affordability, stating, “We’ve tried to make it affordable. Private schools have told us they would pay ten times what we’re asking to get this.”
He recognizes that public schools often operate with tighter budgets and aims to make the drones accessible to all educational institutions.
Albert Martinez, police chief of the Dallas Independent School District, highlighted the necessity of broadening drone applications beyond active shooter scenarios.
Referring to the recent gun violence at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, where a shooting injured several individuals, Martinez expressed that he requires more information before his district invests in this technology.
He remarked, “Whatever our cost is going to be, I’m going to want more,” stressing the importance of daily safety measures.
Martinez seeks added capabilities to ensure the safety of students, staff, and faculty not just during crises, but also at various school events like football and volleyball games.
As drone technology continues to evolve, the conversation about enhancing school safety measures remains critical, with a focus on efficient and effective responses to potential emergencies.
The future of school safety may very well incorporate this innovative approach, bringing a new dimension to crisis response in educational settings.
image source from：dallasnews
