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Published September 11, 2008
Virtual Command Endorsement
Dr. William M. Kramer, Director, Fire Science Education at the University of Cincinnati OMI College of Applied Science recently had the
opportunity to review "Virtual Command Technology" for its application to fire and security emergencies.
Based on that review, Dr. Kramer stated:
- The system can dramatically reduce the loss of life and property damage when used as a primary fire system.
- The system will significantly help to ensure the safety of the fire service personnel responding to such an emergency.
- The real time information provided to responding police and other security personnel will have tremendous influence on improving the potential to save lives in an "active Shooter" incident.
- The results of the comparative testing demonstrate the tactical value of real time emergency information to dramatically improve the effectiveness of all responders.
Dr. Kramer stated that he "believed so strongly in its effectiveness and the improvement it offers for tactical response to fires and
other emergencies that I intend to include it in the curriculum for our Master's Degree in Emergency Management."
Click to read Dr. Kramer's letter.
Published August 21, 2008
Conference offers tips on safety in schools
...Borelli and DiGiorgio were followed by a presentation of technology that can provide police, fire and municipal
departments with real-time streaming of a school's interior to track criminal activity.
Kathy Fritz said the virtual command technology will be implemented for the first time in the mid-Atlantic region
at Sterling High School in Somerdale.
Terry Van Zoeren, superintendent of the Hopewell School district, said the product shows great promise to foster school safety...
Click to read the entire CourierPostOnline.com article
Published August 19, 2008
School security conference to be held in Washington Township Wednesday
Approximately 200 school superintendents, principals, police chiefs, school and juvenile police officers and school building
managers from Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties are expected to attend a conference on school security
Wednesday August 20, 2008 at the Commerce Bank Performing Arts Center of Washington Township High School, Hurffville-Cross Keys Road.
Organized by prosecutors of the four counties in cooperation with education officials, the conference will focus on internal
and external threats to schools and technology available to respond to dangers.
Click to read the entire South Jersey News Online article
Published June 2, 2008
"Active
Shooter" Photo/Video Galleries
Dave Kimmel, NetTalon's Director of Engineering captured a series of photographs during the two day "Active Shooter Demo" at the McKinley Middle
School in Baton Rouge, LA. The pictures provide a behind the scenes look at the event. Great job Dave!
Click to view the "Active Shooter" Photo Gallery ....
Click to view Local Baton Rouge Television Reports on the "Active Shooter" Video Gallery ....
Published May 30, 2008
"Active Shooter Demo" Successful!!
Charles Lussier Baton Rouge 2theadvocate.com Staff Writer
details NetTalon's "Active Shooter Demo" in an article entitled "High-tech school security system tested".
In a scenario eerily reminiscent of recent school shootings, two police officers, acting as gunmen,
twice entered McKinley Middle School on Thursday to simulate what might happen during such a tragedy.
Using paint balls instead of bullets, the gunmen in the first assault "killed" 11 individuals posing
as students and "wounded" 14 more.
The second time, the shooters "killed" one and "injured" another.
Read about the difference? ....
Published May 30, 2008
"BR School Protected Against Gunmen
It's a first in the nation, and it's right here in Baton Rouge: A middle school under so much surveillance
that a gunman would have little chance of escape. NBC 33's David D'Aquin shows us today's dramatic test run.
A terrifying scene. Armed men forcing their way into a school. They burst through the
doors - all part of a drill. Then they shoot a student. Until now, police would have to trust
their instincts to find gunmen like this, but, now, McKinley Middle in Baton Rouge is the first school
in the country to install "Virtual Command Technology."
Link to the full story ....
Published May 30, 2008
"McKinley Magnet Middle
receives "safe school" status
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - A shooter on a school campus is a scenario that is now very real for
law enforcement around Baton Rouge. Usually, first responders arrive and start asking questions like Who
saw the shooter? or Where did they go? Now, some high-tech equipment will give them those answers before they get to the school.
The system is putting one school at the top for safety. We're told it's the first of its kind anywhere.
McKinley Middle Magnet is being called a "safe school." The school is wired, so that if a shooting happens,
police will instantly be able to track their suspect. News of a shooter loose on a school campus is something
no police officer wants to hear.
Police usually go into an "active shooter" situation blind to what's happening, until someone tells them who,
how many, and where. "We use our site. We're looking at children to see if we can collect data. We rely on that radio
to give us information because somebody has to call from this building to headquarters and then has to be relayed back
to us and we're hoping that the information is correct.
Link to the full story and video ....
Published May 15, 2008 Update
New School Security System Tested - WBRZ Video
A new school security system, the first of its kind in the country, is being tested in Baton Rouge.
McKinley Middle Magnet School is the first to be equipped with the Virtual security and monitoring system.
Click ">" Twice to start video.
Published April, 2008
Baton Rouge Schools Test First Responder Video Communication System
Author: Dian Schaffhauser
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System has implemented a pilot project involving three of its 90 schools in an
"intelligent building response" initiative. The city was the site earlier this year of a shooting that claimed three
lives on the campus of the Louisiana Technical College. The district effort involves networking the three schools to 911,
fire, emergency and police/sheriff substations to give incident commanders and responding units the ability to view a
developing security or fire emergency at each school through a mobile, wireless computer system.
The company that built the system, NetTalon, said it expects to expand the security and fire network with the
remaining schools in the district. Read the full article in THE Journal.
About the author: Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business for a number of publications.
Published April 30, 2008 Update
NetTalon Schedules Active Shooter Demo for May 29-30, 2008
The Virginia Tech tragedy has many higher education institutions and K-12 assessing the adequacy of their
emergency preparedness to effectively respond to an "Active Shooter Incident".
Currently higher educational institutions are focusing on campus wide notification
and not much else. The exception to that is Virginia Tech where locks are being installed on
classroom doors, but whether those locks can withstand 9mm or 10mm gunfire is a question. K-12
facilities are focusing on prevention. The current reality is that not one institution any where in the world
could effectively mitigate an "Active Shooter Incident".
The critical incident time line favors the perpetrator. A 17 round magazine semi automatic pistol can be
emptied in 20 seconds. The time to make a cell call to 911 and to describe the nature of the emergency
takes longer than 20 seconds. That is too slow!
Today faculty, staff and students do not have a way to immediately notify school officials that (1) a life and death emergency has
started, (2) they either are/are not in danger and (3) a medical emergency exist! Any lock on a classroom or dormitory door can easily
be shot through and disabled. Campus/local police can only begin to react when they are notified
that an emergency is underway. The speed and effectiveness of their response is a direct correlation
to their situational awareness of the incident. Which building? What are the subject and clothing descriptions
of the shooter(s)? What type of weapons? Where in the building are they? Who is under attack?
Who is momentarily safe? How many and where are the wounded? The faster first responders can
answer these questions, the faster they can mitigate the incident and stop the loss of life through
effective incident planning, adequate manpower and swift execution.
As schools and colleges are protected today the first responders lack the means to quickly
gain situational awareness. First responders responding to the two most horrendous Active Shooter Incidents,
Columbine and Virginia Tech were not able to quickly mitigate the incident. Not because
of a lack of professional ability or courage but because of a lack of knowledge of the immediate tactical
situation in the building. Delays were caused by a lack of situational awareness and seconds do matter
in the Emergency Response time line!
Active Shooter Demonstration
NetTalon, ASSA ABLOY and Bosch have teamed together to demonstrate that an integrated application of
Virtual Command Technology can effectively mitigate an Active Shooter Incident. The demonstration is scheduled
for May 29-30, 2008. The demonstration will be realistic and conducted with the cooperation of
multiple Louisiana police agencies: the Baton Rouge City Police, the Parrish Sheriff, and the
Louisiana State Police. If you are interested in witnessing the demonstration please e-mail
Ronald Dubois with your interest. We will be happy to provide you with additional information and an invitation.
NetTalon will publish additional information about the "Active Shooter Demonstration" on its web site. Check back often.
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