School systems and police departments are community partners, and ensuring student, faculty and officer safety is a high priority for both entities. In Pennsylvania, police departments are being both innovative and proactive by using wireless technology to handle school safety. If there is an emergency, local police departments can increase situational awareness by directly linking to Pennsylvania schools’ live video camera feeds. About 128 cameras keep watch over the Franklin Regional School District’s five schools - one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools. And the Murrysville Police Department will upgrade officers’ in-car laptops with software that will connect to each of the district’s live video feeds. Linking to these feeds could provide vital information for police officers in the event of an emergency. The police department received a $100,000 grant from the Community Oriented Policing Services technology program, of which about $45,000 will fund the purchase of OnSite Information Systems Inc.’s Responder Knowledge software.

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