Wylie ISD is first Texas district to test new security technology described as 'faster than human eye can determine'

The Wylie Independent School District (WISD) in Abilene is the first district in Texas to launch a new alert surveillance system.

According to Big Country Homepage, WISD has launched a pilot program with Angel Protection, an automated system designed to detect threats. The program's founders hope it can revolutionize school security by securing buildings and notifying authorities before a school shooting incident takes place.

Collin Times asked district assistant superintendent Craig Bessent for more information on how the system works. He said the Angel Protection system can monitor multiple security cameras at once and determine threats in milliseconds, a significant speed advantage over traditional surveillance systems that are monitored by security guards.

"It's a surveillance system that's operated with a computer program," Bessent said. "This program is able to watch as many different surveillance cameras as you want to put on there and it determines exactly what's happening in milliseconds. Faster than a human eye can determine. 

"If an individual [is] trying to possibly bring a firearm on the school property, [or] they're in a fight, the gunshot, facial recognition, any of those details, however many surveillance cameras you have, it's interpreting each one of those in milliseconds," he added.

Bessent noted the disadvantages of a traditional security systems that rely on security personnel to monitor security and interpret threats in real time. 

"If you've ever watched surveillance cameras, it's difficult to actually see what happens because your eyes see it and then your mind has to determine what it just saw and it's already three steps past," the assistant superintendent said. "Even though you think you might have saw something, a lot of times you have to run it back." 

Bessent said the program can determine threats much more quickly, and then immediately send alerts to security personnel with the location and screenshots of supposed threats.

"We have both uniformed police officers and Texas school marshals, and it sends out an alert to their phone immediately," he said. "Potential threat or seven, shows a picture, gives a description of the individual in just a millisecond." 

According to Bessent, in addition to security alerts, the Angel system also has several remote smart features including the ability to lock doors remotely and call the police.

Bessent said the program was funded with donations from a "nonprofit group of anonymous donors" who "wanted to make schools safer." He said that the program will be presented to lawmakers at the upcoming legislative session for consideration. 

In May, the nation watched in horror as 21 people, including 19 children, were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

According to a study by Every Town, there were 125 incidents of gunfire on school grounds nationwide, resulting in 43 deaths and 91 injuries in 2022

Parents are concerned. In a recent University of Texas poll, 57% of Texans surveyed said elected officials have done “too little” to prevent mass shootings in Texas, KXAN News reports.

According to a news release, on Oct. 3, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed John Scott as the new chief of school safety and security. 

“Protecting Texas children and making our schools safer for all are top priorities," Abbott, who is running for reelection against Democrat Beto O'Rourke, said. "John Scott is uniquely qualified to help lead our efforts ensuring the safety and security of Texas schools.”