School districts in Florida, Georgia and Colorado are deploying small, remotely‑controlled drones as part of their active‑shooter response plans. The drones can break windows, relay video to law‑enforcement and use a speakerphone to communicate with teachers and police, aiming to neutralize a threat within about a minute.
Industry growth and parental demand
According to Justin Marston, co‑founder and CEO of Campus Guardian Angel, the school‑security market is now a multi‑billion‑dollar industry. He estimates $3‑$4 billion is spent each year on tools such as drones, school resource officers and metal detectors. The Urban Institute reported $2.62 billion was spent on school resource officers alone in 2023.
Parents who have lost children in mass shootings are driving the push for more security measures. Marston said, “Every parent wants to know there is a capability at their child’s school to confront and stop an active shooter rather than waiting five to eight minutes for police.”
Where the drones are being used
Florida currently has drones in three counties, funded in part by more than $1 million in state allocations. Five schools in Georgia have received drones funded by the state legislature. This month Colorado will see its first deployment, and Texas districts have expressed interest in acquiring the technology.
All four states have experienced high‑profile school shootings – Parkland, FL; Apalachee, FL; Uvalde, TX; and Columbine, CO – which have spurred legislation and funding for school safety.
Other security measures and challenges
Drone deployment joins other “school hardening” steps such as metal detectors, automatic door locks and surveillance cameras. However, these measures are not foolproof. Recent incidents in Nashville, TN and Mobile, AL show that technology can fail or be bypassed.
Training programs like the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) at Texas State University continue to prepare first responders for active‑shooter situations, emphasizing quick response times that can save lives.
Parental‑led legislation
Following the 2018 Parkland shooting, Florida passed Alyssa’s Law, requiring public schools to install silent panic alarms linked directly to law‑enforcement. Similar laws have been adopted in a dozen other states.
While some advocate for more technology, others argue that low‑cost measures such as threat assessment, student supervision and suicide‑prevention programs provide higher protection per dollar spent.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
