Campus security breakthrough launched at University of Bridgeport
Successful deployment at University of Bridgeport allows campus security to see real-time video of individuals in distress and pinpoints their location
EATONTOWN, NJ (Nov. 13, 2017) – National Protective Systems, a maker of personal security systems for academic, healthcare and other institutions, today announced it has integrated its Campus Shield platform with IP video systems to give on-site security teams the ability to instantly see and record the situation facing an individual in distress.
In a mock drill on November 9 at the University of Bridgeport, real-time video from nearby campus security cameras was displayed when a volunteer pressed the Campus Shield fob, allowing university police to see the assailant posing a threat, as well as the exact location and the identity of the individual in distress.
“To our knowledge, this is the first personal security device to achieve integration with closed-circuit video in an institutional setting,” said National Protective Systems CEO Douglas D’Agata. “This breakthrough gives security personnel the opportunity to immediately respond to incidents in real time, armed with all the information they need to decide how to deploy resources.”
The video integration feature can be installed with any institution’s existing closed-circuit IP security camera technology. The breakthrough is the first major upgrade for Campus Shield since the proprietary platform won Campus Safety magazine’s award for Intrusion and Panic Alarms in 2014.
“This is groundbreaking. I can now follow someone under duress in real time and see what is causing that duress,” said Joe Della Monica, Director of Campus Safety at University of Bridgeport. “This information allows me to deploy our resources with optimal efficiency. In addition, I now know what my officers are walking into so their safety during these events is improved as well.”
The system, which can be customized to serve indoor and outdoor settings at academic, healthcare and other campus environments, is activated by pressing of a small key fob (called a Personal Alarm Locator or PAL), which pinpoints the location of the emergency for security staff and displays the identity of the user, as well as the user’s medical (optional) and emergency contact information.
“A student or a staff member can discretely put their hand in their pocket, activate the fob, and campus police will know who they are, where they are, and see what is happening to them – all within one to two seconds.” D’Agata said.
“Many people feel safe with free phone apps that supposedly alert off-campus police. Who wants to fumble with a phone and try to find an app when they are being attacked or facing some other immediate threat to their health and safety? Would an attacker even allow that? GPS apps are notoriously inaccurate when it comes to locating an event indoors,” D’Agata added.
In its deployment at the University of Bridgeport, National Protective Systems personnel perfected the new system over the course of 27 months. The company is now in the process of making sure the live feeds from more than 250 cameras on campus are accurately linked to the Campus Shield platform.
The University of Bridgeport received the prestigious 2003 Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award and has been recognized as an innovator for its adoption of the Campus Shield Personal Alarm Locator (PAL) system. More than 5,600 students, including 2,930 undergraduate students attend the private, 90-year-old university, which has a 50-acre campus and 462 faculty members.
Many Millennials view their personal devices, such as smart phones, as protection from physical harm, according to a recent survey led by ADT and published in Campus Safety magazine, but 75 percent said they are interested in purchasing an additional personal security device – indicating they are not satisfied with current choices.
Campus Shield systems also are deployed at Danbury Hospital, a 456-bed healthcare facility featuring 2,457 employees, including more than 900 physicians and health professionals in Danbury, CT; six campuses of the New York State Office of Mental Health, headquartered in Albany, NY., which serves more than 700,000 individuals each year across the state; and, two campus of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, based in Albany and responsible for coordinating services for more than 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.
About National Protective Systems
National Protective Systems, a private company based in Eatontown, N.J., is a national leader in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining campus-wide security solutions based on radio frequency (RF) technology and the company’s proprietary software. The company serves colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and public and private schools. The company’s award-winning Campus Shield platform can be customized to meet any institution’s personal security needs. Learn more at www.nationalprotectivesystems.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Liz Gagnon, Tetra Public Affairs
Liz@tetrapublicaffairs.com
Douglas A. D’Agata, Jr., CEO
DDagata@nat-pro.com
978-998-4756 (o)
617-642-7787 (c)
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