School security: Wylie ISD piloting new AI surveillance system

Wylie ISD is paving the way in safety for Texas schools by piloting a new alert and security surveillance system on district campuses, officials said.

On Tuesday, law enforcement officers, community members and school officials from WISD and surrounding districts saw a presentation and demonstration of the Angel Protection System being integrated at Wylie High School.

The Angel Protection team's mission is to transform crisis response by providing technological solutions to identify threats, alert schools and contact law enforcement, which improves safety, optimizes efficiency and ultimately, saves lives, according to the company.

Craig Bessent, WISD assistant superintendent of school operations, introduced Angel Protection executives Lewis Matthews and Carlos Ortiz.

Matthews, equipped with a technical and educational background in data analysis, artificial intelligence and technology integration, operates the technology side of the Angel Protection system.

Ortiz, with a resume detailing service with the U.S. Border Patrol and Security, Honor Guard, U.S. Marine Corps and Texas State Troopers, provides knowledge of law enforcement procedures and operations.

What is the problem with security and safety?

Matthews emphasized the race against time schools, communities and law enforcement face when a threat is realized.

The U.S. Department of Justice conducted a study analyzing the time between first shots fired to 911 being initiated.

Comparing the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and the 2023 Nashville school shooting, they found it took 60 seconds to dispatch at Columbine and 120 seconds in Nashville, Matthews said.

The Angel Protection system cuts down response times to 3-5 seconds before first shots were fired, he said.

How does the system work?

"The minute the weapon is exposed to the camera, we can learn who the threat is before shots are fired," Matthews said.

There are three primary components of the system: artificial intelligence detection, law enforcement alert monitoring and deployment of the mobile notification app.

It starts with risk detection by connecting security surveillance cameras and artificial intelligence. Once the system detects a gun or firearm, a call is dispatched to local law enforcement.

Agencies will be set up with a monitor that will alert loudly until an officer notices the activity. From there, the human side of the transaction takes over in determining if a real threat is imminent and dispatching officers to the scene.

At the same time, school administrators, security and anyone with access to the mobile app will receive an alert with images and details of the threat.

"They're getting images for the location of the shooter. They get an image of the actual shooter themselves, and it's timestamped as the shooter continues to progress through different areas," Matthews said.

A concern expressed to the presenters was how often a person conceals or does not conceal a weapon before entering into a school.

Ortiz said through their research of cases across the country, the only instance where a gun was carried into a school in a backpack was in Alpine.

Every other shooting throughout the country, the gun has been displayed prior to entering the building, Ortiz said. However, at this time, a gun or weapon cannot be detected if carried in a backpack.

"We are trying to delay. The further we can detect it, the longer a timeframe given to law enforcement to get there and stop it," he said.

Angel Protection System installment

The AI will be installed behind an internet system's firewall and connected to existing cameras.

The team will integrate the 911 dispatch, provide the phone application for mobile alerts and perform a full demonstration of the technology.

Angel Protection is not only for school safety.

Ortiz said hospital officials in Big Lake have expressed interest in implementing the security system within their facilities.

How much does it cost?

A rough cost estimate for the price tag to schools is $1 per student per month and an upfront hardware cost of $3,000 per every 30 cameras.

Total cost breakdowns will vary for larger schools and number and quality of cameras.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Wylie ISD piloting new AI security system with weapon detection