Latest news with #VaporWake
Axios
24-04-2025
- Axios
New police K9s help Fulton schools sniff out firearms
The Fulton County School System now has three, four-legged officers whose keen noses can help detect weapons and explosives. Why it matters: The police K-9s are part of the district's investment in tools and technology to deter school shootings. They will also prevent the Fulton County schools police department from having to rely on a neighboring jurisdiction's K-9 unit when responding to calls. Driving the news: The Labrador retrievers — Ernie, Ducky and Delilah — are assigned to Fulton school police officers who completed six weeks of training with the dogs. The dogs visit schools each day and participate in random checks. They also lend a helping nose when the district is using its Evolv system, which uses sensors and AI to detect concealed weapons. What they're saying:"It's just an additional resource that we have when we're actually looking to make sure that weapons stay out of our schools," Fulton County schools police chief Mark Sulborski told Axios. Zoom in: It cost the district around $110,000 to purchase the dogs and get them trained. They also have ongoing maintenance and veterinary costs, said Sulborski, who oversees a department that has more than 60 officers. The district outfitted police vehicles to accommodate the dogs, including a system that monitors the car's temperature and can alert an officer of any changes. How they work: Sgt. Sean Hanse, Ernie's handler, told Axios his dog can follow an odor or do a "static" move — meaning he can find something that's hiding. "He'll keep working until he gets right to the odor," Hanse said during a demonstration of Ernie's skills at Cambridge High School in Milton. Once he's found something, he will sit and wait for his reward: a ball. The dogs were purchased from the Global K9 Protection Group, an Alabama-based business that provides canines for security-related jobs. The company procures them from Auburn University, and they are trained using Global K9's Vapor Wake method, which teaches dogs how to detect concealed or person-worn explosives or firearms, according to its website. The company is working on a similar partnership this year with the Cobb County School District, and the Board of Education is expected to consider approving an agreement at its Thursday meeting. Zoom out: Fulton and Cobb's interests in police K9s come nearly two years after Atlanta Public Schools brought on three dogs that also sniff out weapons and explosives. Following the May 24, 2022, school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the Fulton school system installed audible alarms on doors that are not used as the primary entrance and exit points at schools. The district also purchased more than 200 automatic license plate readers that were placed at campus entrances and installed buzzer entry systems on the front doors of each school.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Cobb County adds new gun and explosive-sniffing dogs to schools
The Brief Cobb County Schools is taking new measures to boost safety just weeks after a deadly incident involving a student and a gun. The county announced that it will be hiring two Vapor Wake dogs to search for concealed firearms and explosives. Cobb County currently spends over $35 million on school safety annually. COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Cobb County Schools are taking new measures to protect students after a deadly incident in January involving a student with a gun. On Thursday, the school district announced plans to add a new layer of protection to keep students safe. The backstory On the afternoon of Jan. 15, Lindley Middle School in Mableton was swarmed by police after a report of a shooting inside one of the bathrooms. Police said a student used a gun to harm herself. The Cobb County Police Department and Cobb County School Police quickly responded, securing the campus and initiating a lockdown to protect students and staff. The student, whose identity has not been disclosed, was airlifted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in critical condition. A week later, police confirmed that she succumbed to her injuries. READ MORE: Lindley Middle School shooting: Student dies after shooting self on campus, police say The tragic event left students, parents, and staff shaken and had some in the community calling for stronger safety measures to prevent weapons from entering schools. What we know This week, Cobb County Schools announced that they will be adding two Vapor Wake canine detection teams through a partnership with the company Global K9. These dogs will be added to the K9s already patrolling Cobb County classrooms. Unlike the traditional detection dogs, the two new additions are "specially trained to continuously sample the air for concealed firearms and explosives, tracking potential threats even while in motion," officials said. The Vapor Wake teams are used at Atlanta Braves games, universities, arenas, theaters, and the United Nations. The idea is to speed up the response to any potential threats. What they're saying "We want our families to see for themselves that our schools are the safest in our community," Board Chair David Chastain said in a release announcing the dogs. "These canine teams are another example of us identifying and addressing threats before they happen." At a board meeting on Thursday, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that the district will "Be a the forefront of ensuring the safety of our students and team" while they are on the county's campuses. "As we spend over $35 million on safety per year, other than your home, Cobb's schools continue to be the safest environment in our county, and we are confident Vapor Wake dogs will make our schools even safer," Ragsdale said. Big picture view The new dogs will soon be added to the county's multi-layered security approach in its schools. The Cobb Shield program includes a 24/7 tip line, a crisis alert system, and the Evolv screening system. The Source FOX 5's Marc Teicher reported this story out of Cobb County. Additional information for this report came from a release by Cobb County Schools and previous FOX 5 reporting.
