Baltimore City has its eye on a high-tech weapons detection system to help keep schools safe. Officials said it's been on the drawing board for some time. The discussion continues even as another loaded handgun was found Thursday at Mervo High School. An 18-year-old with a loaded handgun and drugs was arrested at the school. An administrator found the weapon. WBAL-TV 11 News has learned Mervo is testing a new weapon detection system.In a public board meeting in late October, the school administration proposed then backed away from seeking approval to spend $1.2 million to buy more detection systems. They apparently still have plans to place 33 of the weapon detection systems in 52 schools. Lynette Washington, chief operating officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, explained during that board meeting how the system works."The technology that's used to detect it is based off of a wired or wireless type of tablet and it gives a warning to a security guard and also a visual to a security guard that threat is present," Washington said.At the time, Parent and Community Advisory Board member Melissa Schober raised questions about the effectiveness of the equipment."If this body is considering a procurement that would permit the use of Evolv mosaic platform, which includes facial recognition software, whether this body is aware the high false detection rates for Evolv's AI system, including their inability to distinguish Chromebooks from guns," Schober said.The school system hasn't said when it'll revisit the purchase of the weapon detection system. A system is already being used in middle and high schools on the Eastern Shore.WBAL-TV 11 News reached out to school officials about where the project current stands and hasn't received a response.ALSO: Video below (WCVB) -- School uses technology to detect gunshots
BALTIMORE —
Baltimore City has its eye on a high-tech weapons detection system to help keep schools safe. Officials said it's been on the drawing board for some time.
The discussion continues even as another loaded handgun was found Thursday at Mervo High School. An 18-year-old with a loaded handgun and drugs was arrested at the school. An administrator found the weapon.
WBAL-TV 11 News has learned Mervo is testing a new weapon detection system.
In a public board meeting in late October, the school administration proposed then backed away from seeking approval to spend $1.2 million to buy more detection systems. They apparently still have plans to place 33 of the weapon detection systems in 52 schools.
Lynette Washington, chief operating officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, explained during that board meeting how the system works.
"The technology that's used to detect it is based off of a wired or wireless type of tablet and it gives a warning to a security guard and also a visual to a security guard that threat is present," Washington said.
At the time, Parent and Community Advisory Board member Melissa Schober raised questions about the effectiveness of the equipment.
"If this body is considering a procurement that would permit the use of Evolv mosaic platform, which includes facial recognition software, whether this body is aware the high false detection rates for Evolv's AI system, including their inability to distinguish Chromebooks from guns," Schober said.
The school system hasn't said when it'll revisit the purchase of the weapon detection system. A system is already being used in middle and high schools on the Eastern Shore.
WBAL-TV 11 News reached out to school officials about where the project current stands and hasn't received a response.
ALSO: Video below (WCVB) -- School uses technology to detect gunshots
Gloss