Geauga County Schools Uses AI to Detect Guns Approaching Schools

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Artificial intelligence technology is currently being used in several local schools, which will hopefully give some parents peace of mind.

It's called ZeroEyes and was developed by former Navy Seals.

This school year, the Berkshire School District campus is armed not with guns or metal detectors, but with artificial intelligence.

Their ZeroEyes software is installed in dozens of cameras throughout the K-12 building, to detect anyone approaching or inside with a firearm.

If the AI ​​detects a weapon, it alerts the ZeroEyes command center for verification. It is fully staffed 24/7 by ex-military personnel.

“It doesn't record anything, but it scans constantly,” said Berkshire Superintendent Dr. John Stoddard.

If there is a weapon on or near campus, Stoddard is alerted within 3 seconds, as are school resource officers and the sheriff's department.

“Most of the time, someone could come in from the outside with a gun before anyone even sees them. But the ZeroEyes will see them, and we’ll get a call and can start responding. So it’s a lot quicker,” said Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand.

“One of the benefits of ZeroEyes is that it leaves a record of everywhere the armed person has been,” Stoddard said.

ZeroEyes can even put the building into lockdown. Berkshire Schools was able to integrate their comprehensive approach to safety into the construction of their new building.

This is the third school year that Zero Eye will be at work in Berkshire schools.

Dr. Stoddard says they know it works because of drills they've run with the local SWAT team. The team has also detected suspicious toy guns.

“We decided not to go with active metal detectors that make it feel like a prison rather than a school,” Stoddard said.

The district pays a monthly fee, about $60 per camera.

“We haven't had any positive results so far and we hope it never happens again. But this is definitely a tool that will speed up the response,” Sheriff Hildenbrand said.

He would like to see a school resource officer and zero eyes in every school.

Berkshire isn't the only Geauga County school using this technology to keep students and staff safe.

The Chardon School District also uses this technology, as does the Geauga County Administration Building.

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