school safety

Montgomery County Schools Deploy Advanced Security Software

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For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil (In Force)
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Media Contact: Katie Hursey
Montgomery County Schools Public Information Officer
Email: [email protected]

Montgomery County Schools Deploy Advanced Security Software

IN FORCE911 Enables all Employees to Communicate Directly with Police Officers During an Emergency

Media note: Superintendent Dale Ellis is available for local TV and radio interviews. In Force Technology LLC CEO Brandon Flanagan is available via telephone, Skype or any Boston television satellite studio.

TROY, N.C. — Montgomery County Schools and area law enforcement agencies will soon deploy an advanced software tool that enables faculty, staff and administrators throughout the district to communicate directly with police officers in the event of an emergency or security intrusion.

By partnering with Boston-based In Force Technology, LLC, the school district will soon be equipped with the IN FORCE911 desktop and mobile software application. The software is proven to significantly reduce police response time to buildings and specific locations inside buildings during a critical event at a school while addressing the communications barrier that unfortunately exists during active shooter incidents.

It is a software tool that school officials, police officers and the developers hope is never needed, however the leadership of the Montgomery County Schools believes that this level of preparation and sophistication could provide a vital link between those inside a school building and those rushing to help, when seconds count.

The IN FORCE911 app empowers school employees with the ability to launch an alert in seconds from their desktop or mobile device, rather than minutes, with the current 911 system. Rather than waiting for calls to route through statewide or county-wide dispatch systems, IN FORCE911 sends alerts and messages directly to the terminals and mobile devices of police officers in a specified area.

During an emergency, the alert is sent directly to the dispatch center, police cruisers and cell phones of officers with specific information, including the room of origin. It also opens a two-way chat dialogue, in real-time, allowing staff to communicate details of a threat or description of a suspect to first responders. Additionally, first responders are provided access to floor plans, security camera feeds and other emergency  information to help them plan the best response.

“We are so excited to deploy In Force911 in Montgomery County Schools,” Superintendent Ellis said. “The safety of our students is always our top priority. When looking at alternatives to improve communication with staff during a critical incident response, In Force911 was the clear choice for our school system. We are excited to partner with them to help make our schools as safe as they can be.”

In Force Technology is working with the school district this September to implement the new software.

“Reducing communication barriers in the event of an emergency has the potential to save lives and make a dramatic difference in the response time of first responders, and we’re pleased to be able to work with Montgomery County Schools to deploy IN FORCE911 to that end,” said Brandon Flanagan, President and CEO of In Force Technology. “We hope this technology empowers staff within the district with the ability to contact and alert law enforcement immediately, if necessary.”

IN FORCE911 is used throughout the country. Several communities in the Virginia area including Northampton, Amherst and Pulaski Counties have recently adopted the product, and Scotland County Public Schools in North Carolina have also recently deployed the software.

By implementing the IN FORCE911 school safety software throughout its schools and law enforcement entities, Montgomery County hopes to empower its school faculty, staff and students, while working to save lives during an act of violence. Countless law enforcement training courses all teach the same lesson: time equals lives and every second counts during an emergency or active shooter incident.

ABOUT IN FORCE TECHNOLOGY LLC

School safety is our mission. At In Force Technology LLC, we enable faculty, staff and school administrators to communicate directly with police officers, dispatchers, sheriffs, and other first responders in real-time by removing technological and human barriers from the process of reporting an emergency. IN FORCE911, the company’s flagship product, enables two-way communication between employees inside a school and the actual police officers responding to an intruder, act of violence, or active shooter incident. The software works on all computer and mobile platforms, is cloud-based and always-on, and requires no hardware on the client side. It even works during power outages by opening on an employee’s smart phone or cellular-connected tablet. The software also allows police to send alerts about nearby emergencies or threats directly to school employees in real-time.

IN FORCE911 is currently used by more than 40 communities in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.

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Winthrop Police and Fire Provide Update on School Security Measures

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2018

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Winthrop Police and Fire Provide Update on School Security Measures

WINTHROP — As the school year begins, Police Chief Terence Delehanty and Fire Chief Paul E. Flanagan wish to share the scope of safety measures the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments have implemented in partnership with Winthrop Public Schools.

“As students go back to school this year, we want to assure Winthrop residents that there are a myriad of safety procedures, policies and mechanisms in place to protect students and staff,” Police Chief Delehanty said. “We are mindful of the national climate, and we have heard the ongoing concerns of our school families, students and educators. We want to assure everyone that the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments and Winthrop Public Schools have worked together tirelessly to put the highest quality modern safety measures in place. We are constantly working with the schools to better protect and serve our students and teachers.”

Thanks to funds secured in the state budget this year by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, the district has implemented several new security measures prior to the start of classes this month including upgrades to security cameras, crosswalk painting and electronic speed signs near schools. District employees will also begin threat assessment training this school year.

In partnership with the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments, Winthrop Public Schools has also developed protocols designed to protect students and staff in response to various threats, intruder situations and emergencies. These protocols are constantly assessed and updated as best practices in school safety continue to evolve and change. Recently, the district has also updated the safety protocols that are provided to school staff.

“We are fortunate to have a great partnership with Winthrop Public Schools, which has allowed us to seamlessly collaborate on the best methods and practices we can put in place to protect students in any emergency situation,” Fire Chief Flanagan said. “Student safety has been a topic on the forefront of everyone’s minds for several years, and working with the schools to create a safe environment is of the utmost importance to us all.”

Working in conjunction with the Police and Fire Departments, the school district also holds a series of lockdown drills at each building every school year. Drills will begin within the first few weeks of school this year. Each school also completes an annual fire and police inspection before the start of the school year, and locks and mechanisms at every district facility are also tested on a more frequent basis.

All staff at Winthrop Public Schools are also ALICE certified. ALICE, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, is a training  method that helps prepare individuals to respond to the threat of an active shooter. It also teaches individuals potentially life-saving actions that could help themselves and others during such a threat. These skill sets seek to empower people to make decisions that could save their lives and limit the impact of a violent intruder event.

Police and firefighters are also members of Threat Assessment teams within the Winthrop Public School District, which also include administrators and community health staff.

On behalf of the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments, Chiefs Delehanty and and Flanagan wish everyone a happy and safe start to the new school year!

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Scotland County Public Schools Deploys Advanced Security Software

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil (In Force)
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Media Contact: Meredith Bounds
Scotland County Schools PIO
Email: [email protected]

Scotland County Public Schools Deploys Advanced Security Software

IN FORCE 911 Enables all Employees to Communicate Directly with Police Officers During an Emergency

Media note: Superintendent Ron Hargrave is available for local TV and radio interviews. In Force Technology LLC CEO Brandon Flanagan is available via telephone, Skype or any Boston television satellite studio.

LAURINBURG, N.C. — Scotland County Public Schools and area law enforcement agencies have recently deployed an advanced software tool that enables faculty, staff and administrators at all 12 schools in the district to communicate directly with police officers in the event of an emergency or security intrusion.

By partnering with Boston-based In Force Technology, LLC, the school district is now equipped with the IN FORCE 911 desktop and mobile software application. The software is proven to significantly reduce police response time to buildings and specific locations inside buildings during a critical event at a school while addressing the communications barrier that unfortunately exists during active shooter incidents.

It is a software tool that school officials, police officers and the developers hope is never needed, however the leadership of the Scotland County Public Schools believes that this level of preparation and sophistication could provide a vital link between those inside a school building and those rushing to help, when seconds count.

The IN FORCE 911 app empowers school employees with the ability to launch an alert in seconds from their desktop or mobile device, rather than minutes, with the current 911 system. Rather than waiting for calls to route through statewide or county-wide dispatch systems, IN FORCE 911 sends alerts and messages directly to the terminals and mobile devices of police officers in a specified area.

During an emergency, the alert is sent directly to the dispatch center, police cruisers and cell phones of officers with specific information, including the room of origin. It also opens a two-way chat dialogue, in real-time, allowing staff to communicate details of a threat or description of a suspect to first responders. Additionally, first responders are provided access to floor plans, security camera feeds and other emergency  information to help them plan the best response.

Scotland County Schools Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, Dr. Larry Obeda, has been working to bring the software to all 12 Scotland County Public Schools, the Laurinburg Police Department, the county Communications Center and the Scotland County Sheriff’s Department.

“Schools have long adapted procedures and tools aimed at preventing or mitigating a variety of threats and dangers, from fire drills to physical devices aimed at keeping doors closed. Now we have a software tool in our hands that removes the delay that exists between placing a 911 call and putting vital information in the hands of first responders during an emergency,” said Scotland County Public Schools Superintendent Ron Hargrave. “We are pleased to be the first school district in North Carolina to bring this advanced technology to our district.”

Training started in mid-July, and the software will be up and running for the start of the upcoming school year.

“Our company exists to reduce police response time and give police officers all the information they need, without delay, during an emergency or act of violence at a school,” said Brandon Flanagan, President and CEO of In Force Technology. “Increasing communication between those experiencing a threat and those responding to the scene can dramatically shorten the duration of an attack by helping police officers find suspects faster, thus saving lives.”

IN FORCE 911 is used throughout the country. Several communities in the Virginia area including Northampton, Amherst and Pulaski Counties have recently adopted the product.

By implementing the IN FORCE 911 school safety software throughout its schools and law enforcement entities, Scotland County hopes to empower its school faculty, staff and students, while working to save lives during an act of violence. Countless law enforcement training courses all teach the same lesson: time equals lives and every second counts during an emergency or active shooter incident.

ABOUT IN FORCE TECHNOLOGY LLC

School safety is our mission. At In Force Technology LLC, we enable faculty, staff and school administrators to communicate directly with police officers, dispatchers, sheriffs, and other first responders in real-time by removing technological and human barriers from the process of reporting an emergency. IN FORCE 911, the company’s flagship product, enables two-way communication between employees inside a school and the actual police officers responding to an intruder, act of violence, or active shooter incident. The software works on all computer and mobile platforms, is cloud-based and always-on, and requires no hardware on the client side. It even works during power outages by opening on an employee’s smart phone or cellular-connected tablet. The software also allows police to send alerts about nearby emergencies or threats directly to school employees in real-time.

IN FORCE 911 is currently used by more than 40 communities in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.

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Sales/Marketing Contact: Jillian Sabina (In Force)

Marketing and Communications Director
Phone: 978-624-7624

Email: [email protected]

Chelmsford Police Department Welcomes New School Resource Officer

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Chelmsford Police Department
Chief James M. Spinney
2 Olde North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 5, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Chelmsford Police Department Welcomes New School Resource Officer

Chelmsford Police Officer Dan Goguen is the new School Resource Officer at McCarthy Middle School. (Courtesy Photo Chelmsford Police Department)

CHELMSFORD – Chief James Spinney is pleased to announce that Officer Dan Goguen will serve as the town’s newest School Resource Officer (SRO).

Officer Goguen is the Chelmsford Police Department’s third SRO, and will be assigned to the McCarthy Middle School full-time, starting on Monday, Aug. 26.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with the Chelmsford School District as we work to improve safety plans and protocols within our schools,” Chief Spinney said. “Student safety is of the utmost importance, and I’m confident that Officer Goguen will be a great resource and support for the staff and students at the McCarthy School.”

In addition to Officer Goguen, Detective Becky Tyros continues to serve as the SRO at Chelmsford High School and Officer Dan Sullivan will continue his work as the SRO at Parker Middle School.

Officer Goguen joined the Chelmsford Police Department in 2004, and is one of the department’s tactical and firearms training instructors. He is a certified A.L.I.C.E. instructor and has attended School Resource Officer training.

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