Tag: public safety
NFPA praises Senate introduction of bipartisan Pro Codes Act to protect safety standards
March 27, 2026SSN Staff
QUINCY, Mass. — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has praised the introduction of the bipartisan Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes (Pro Codes) Act (S. 4145) in the U.S. Senate.
For nearly 130 years, safety standards developed by independent nonprofit organizations like NFPA have protected people and property. These safety standards have dramatically reduced dangers like fire incidents and deaths and helped our communities better prepare for threats like active...
Keefer: Law enforcement-alarm industry partnership remains effective
March 4, 2026Ken Showers
YARMOUTH, Maine — In February, Security Systems News (SSN) highlighted a growing discussion around alarm response and law enforcement workloads. Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) Executive Director Steve Keefer says the national picture shows a broader, more collaborative trend.
Keefer said the discussion raises important points about the workloads imposed on law enforcement, but it misses...
New Mexico Junior College expands deployment of ZeroEyes
March 2, 2026SSN Staff
PHILADELPHIA — ZeroEyes has announced an expansion of its AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness platform deployment at New Mexico Junior College (NMJC).
Building on three years of successful ZeroEyes operation, NMJC extended its coverage area to increase protection against gun-related violence. The college serves approximately 2,400 students and employs 300 faculty and staff as a comprehensive, independent two-year institution in Hobbs, N.M.
“Since...
City’s break with Flock Safety highlights growing AI privacy debate
January 15, 2026Ken Showers
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.—Flagstaff, Ariz., has pulled the plug on its partnership with Flock Safety, voting unanimously in December to end the contract after residents raised privacy concerns about the company’s AI-powered license plate recognition technology. The move underscores the growing tension between cutting-edge security tools and public trust.
During a city council meeting, Chief of Police Sean Connolly told council members that his department set about to provide...
Verkada urges religious institutions to adopt emergency plans, technology
December 11, 2025Ken Showers
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Nearly half of those who attend religious services (48%) say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll.
Thirty-nine percent report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services.
This research highlights a growing concern among faith communities about safety and underscores the need for new approaches to help institutions...
Head in the clouds
December 3, 2025Ken Showers
Now that the chaos of Thanksgiving is over, we’re free to dive back into recent events in the security world, slightly more turkey than man percentage wise.
I had several good topics ready to go this week when Editor Cory Harris approached me and asked if I had seen the new TSA announcement, and readers, I had not. You can read all the sordid details with us online, but the long and short of it is suddenly a lot of things make more sense.
The act to implement REAL ID officially passed...
RapidSOS secures $100 million as it crosses one billion emergencies supported
November 26, 2025SSN Staff
NEW YORK — RapidSOS, the public safety AI company, has raised a $100 million financing round led by the Apax Digital Funds, bringing its total capital raised to over $450 million.
This comes as RapidSOS surpasses one billion emergencies supported—powered by over 600 million connected devices and sensors and openly integrated with every major public safety software system (5,800+ integrations).
“None of this would have been possible without the 10 year+ partnership between...
Hartford Police Department expands camera network
November 18, 2025SSN Staff
CHELMSFORD, Mass. — The Hartford Police Department’s Capital City Command Center (C4), a Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) focused on real-time investigations and enhancing case solvability, has announced a continuation of its partnership with Axis Communications.
The Hartford Police Department (HPD) plans to deploy cameras at 50 additional intersections, which will expand surveillance coverage across key areas of the city and further enhance the center’s ability to quickly synthesize...
News Poll: New tech, product launches are king at ISC East
November 10, 2025Ken Showers
YARMOUTH, Maine — What will be the biggest draw to ISC East 2025? Security Systems News (SSN) polled readers for their input.
Described as the Northeast’s leading security and public safety event, ISC East hosts thousands of security dealers, integrators, installers, consultants and more to showcase the latest industry technology and education.
As for what's drawing the most attention for this year’s ISC East? Fifty-seven percent of news poll respondents...
When the chips are down
October 29, 2025Ken Showers
As I settled in to enjoy my weekend last Friday, you might well imagine my reaction to the headline, “Armed police handcuff teen after AI mistakes crisp packet for gun in U.S.”
It would probably have been something along the lines of, “Here we go again,” except that I had just fallen ill so it was more like, “Blergh,” and I most certainly did not enjoy my weekend. I did, however, have a lot of time to reflect on the incident, which saw a false positive...