Thanks to a donation from a local car dealership, at least one area high school is implementing a new smart-phone app that teachers and law enforcement officials can use in the event of a school shooting.
Chatham-Glenwood High School is taking advantage of an offer from Green Toyota to use “Hero 9-1-1.” Sangamon County Undersheriff Jack Campbell says the system is designed to reduce response times for emergencies.
“There is a different app for teachers and for law enforcement. The teachers are the ones who will activate it if there is a shooting in their school,” says Campbell.
Some Chicago area school districts are already using the system.
“The system is designed to do three things. It will immediately call 911, then it will send a signal to other teachers in the school and, thirdly it will send out a signal to law enforcement in the area,” according to Campbell.
Springfield School District 186 has been offered the system but has not yet decided whether they will implement it.