Tag: public safety
City’s break with Flock Safety highlights growing AI privacy debate
January 15, 2026Ken Showers, Managing Editor
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, Managing Editor
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, Managing Editor
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, Managing Editor
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, Managing Editor
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...
Flock Safety and Ring partnership to let customers share video with law enforcement
October 20, 2025SSN Staff
ATLANTA — Flock Safety and Ring have announced that Flock Safety will integrate with Ring’s Community Requests to give customers the option to share video footage with local public safety agencies that use Flock software to investigate active cases.
The partnership comes on the heels of recent efforts by Flock Safety to expand its influence in the public safety sector with its Alpha platform Drone as First Responder (DFR) offering.
Through Ring’s Community Requests feature...
Flock Safety unveils Alpha, a U.S.-built drone as first responder system
October 17, 2025SSN Staff
ATLANTA — Flock Safety has announced Flock Alpha, the company’s first-ever American-made, NDAA-compliant drone system that’s built to set a new standard in the Drone as First Responder (DFR) industry.
Alpha is purpose-built for emergency situations and public safety, combining rapid response capabilities with extended flight endurance and advanced cameras capable of reading a vehicle license plate from 2,000 feet away. Able to reach up to 60 MPH speeds, Alpha is the fastest...
ZEGS launches portable drone-based AI threat detection public safety offering
October 16, 2025SSN Staff
PHILADELPHIA — ZE Government Solutions (ZEGS), a wholly owned subsidiary of ZeroEyes, has launched ZeroEyes Aerial Detection Kit (ZAD), a portable, drone-based AI threat detection and intelligent situational awareness solution designed for public safety agencies.
The kit provides operators with a stand-alone drone solution that can be deployed in minutes from agencies' existing drone platforms to detect firearms, people, vehicles, drones, and maritime vessels.
Outdoor spaces are among...