Page 100 - Security Today, October 2018

CRIME PREVENTION
criminal patterns and identify trends that can anticipate future activity. Many campus and local police departments already pull and coordi- nate information from multiple sources to determine officer allocation and patrol priorities. However, through advanced machine learning, officials can analyze a full scope of crime data and recommend hour- by-hour patrol areas based on the likelihood of an incident. For instance, if a particular street is prone to car break-ins on Thursday mornings, police chiefs can increase officer presence in that area dur- ing that time.
Beyond anticipating criminal activity, data-driven patrolling enables officers to identify and proactively engage with potential repeat offenders and individuals likely to take retaliatory action. Local and campus officers can work with school administrators, academic advisors and housing officials to gather information about an indi- vidual’s incident history, connections and arrest record. Should red flags emerge, campus safety officials can seek out these individuals and hold conversations that emphasize the consequences of future violent behavior. An emphasis on deterrence can not only directly stop violent behavior, but better integrate and build trust for officers among the campus community.
COORDINATED AND FASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE
The rise in incidents involving armed aggressors, active shooters and multi-victim crime escalates the need for better alignment and com- munication across local and campus law enforcement, fire and EMS response teams. Fortunately, the integration of single-source Com- puter Aided Dispatch (CAD) software can fine-tune analytics and information-sharing and eliminate delays and confusion that can hin- der the health and safety of endangered individuals.
Powered by automated data collection and IoT connectivity, CAD systems enable campus and local safety officials to review and dispatch emergency response resources from available connected agencies immediately after an incident is logged. This real-time compatibility eliminates manual steps from the traditional report-and-search pro- cess and gets the right responders to the scene faster. First responders likewise can synchronize mobile apps to their CAD systems to ensure clear and consistent communications with offsite dispatchers and inci- dent monitors.
Eventually, it’s possible that school officials will expand IoT connec- tivity to professors, classrooms and resident halls for more additional insight during lockdown scenarios. This information ultimately will help responders understand where the greatest recovery needs lie, and isolate incidents to specific segments of a potentially large building.
SAFEGUARDING THE SAFETY TEAMS
While state-of-the-art technologies can elevate protection for students, employees and their property, they also grant an extra layer of intelli- gent defense for the responders tasked with diffusing, analyzing and leading recovery following criminal incidents. Here, real-time data provides previously unavailable visibility that prevents individuals from entering volatile and unfamiliar situations with little to no knowledge of their surroundings.
Through advanced connectivity and situational analysis, offsite response teams can alert field officials of changing crime scene dynam- ics and notify them about potentially hazardous or closed access points within a given site. Such insights can help responders modify their approaches before entering a scene, rather than during, and bring situ- ations to a safer conclusion.
During fast-moving or intense field activity, it’s likely that officers
will not be able to keep consistent contact. IoT monitoring can provide vital information during these critical windows. Non-field officers and dispatchers can track devices to gauge if an officer is in a high-speed chase, has fired a weapon, or has gone silent and may require backup. Along the way, colleagues also can monitor responders’ blood pres- sure, heart rate and mobility to not only evaluate changing situational dynamics (such as an on-foot chase), but make staffing decisions that will preserve their teammates’ health.
SNUFFING THE SMOKE ON FALSE ALARMS
Although illegal and dangerous, false fire alarms are inevitable on a college campus full of pranksters and first-time cooks. Unfortunately, these actions place a greater burden on local and campus law enforce- ment and fire responders who must address the alarm call while pos- sibly being diverted away from tending to a more urgent event.
Campus security officials can offset this problem by implementing false alarm management platforms that can gauge the likelihood of a harmless incident and communicate more intelligently with on-site detectors. A more guided review not only drives smarter decision- making, but inspires a faster response to actual fire incidents. Let’s look at the City of Atlanta as an example, although it’s larger than its in-city college campuses, the City of Atlanta has recouped the equivalent of eight to 12 full-time police officers by eliminating time otherwise wast- ed in responding to false alarms.
MOBILIZING ACTIVE SHOOTER MITIGATION
As the most dire of potential campus crimes, the recent prevalence of active shooter incidents has inspired calls for strategic change among safety officials. In response, a host of schools across the country are implementing new, sensor-based technologies that can automatically alert local officials to gun-related incidents.
These evolving gunfire detection technologies embed special micro- phones both in individuals’ cell phones and connected IoT devices that can detect gunfire acoustic signatures and immediately trigger a CAD response call. At the same time, GPS location services create virtual “dots” identifying anyone carrying a cell phone, offering responders a digital floorplan highlighting the locations of the greatest concentra- tions of individuals either in hiding or requiring attention. This instinctive alerting saves precious minutes during an active shooter incident that otherwise require responders to wait for a call from a panicked student or employee, and can make the difference in poten- tial lives lost.
It’s unrealistic to expect that campus and local safety officials will ever be able to fully eliminate crime from university facilities and surrounding communities. College students, either unfamiliar with their surroundings or careless with their property, will always remain susceptible to crime. However, through enhanced technologies that offer end-to-end, real-time visibility and streamline operational pro- cesses, campus safety agencies can take every precaution possible to protect students and employees and respond faster and more effi- ciently to incidents.
Digital innovation inspires new idea sharing that will benefit campuses nationwide, and build better trust with and preserve reputation among current campus inhabitants, alumni and neighboring cities.
Rich LeCates is the Director of Product Manage- ment, Public Safety Analytics at Superion’s inno- vation center, “Superion Labs.”
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CAMPUS SECURITY & LIFE SAFETY