Rutherford County, TN - Rutherford County Schools in Tennessee have initiated a pilot program funded by a safe schools grant to evaluate an automatic weapon detection system. The system, named "Evolv Weapons Detection," will be introduced across various schools in the district over the upcoming weeks for training purposes.

 

Oakland Middle School's administration has volunteered their school as one of the initial traditional school sites to test the system. Additionally, the units have been deployed to the district's two alternative schools.

 

The system mirrors those commonly found in major event venues like Bridgestone Arena and Nissan Stadium. Upon entering the school premises, individuals will walk through upright poles equipped with scanning technology capable of detecting weapons without requiring them to stop. If a potential weapon is detected, the individual will be directed to the side for further scanning by school personnel.

 

While Rutherford County Schools have not reported any significant issues with weapons on school grounds, the testing of these systems is seen as a proactive measure. Patty Oeser, the RCS Safety Director, emphasized that the pilot program will allow for the evaluation of the system's effectiveness and the refinement of procedures. Depending on available funding and the success of the pilot, the school district plans to consider adding additional units that can be deployed at schools or events in the future.