In the wake of the tragedy in Florida, children and parents at one Massachusetts school can rest assured that technology is in place to minimize the danger posed by an active shooter.
With military grade technology put in place that costs several thousands of dollars, police in Methuen are prepared to deal with this type of attack.
Shooter Detection Systems CEO Chris Connors says he founded the company to save lives by minimizing law enforcement response times.
"These instances don't last long, so literally, when we say every second can save a life, that's actually true," Connors tells NBC Boston.
The technology costs between $6,000 and $10,000, depending on the size of the building. The cost is currently too high for Methuen Public Schools to implement the protective service into more facilities. However, Superintendent Judith Scannell says it provides her a peace of mind to have it at at least one of their schools.
"There's more comfort knowing that building does have this extra layer of safety and that the response time would be quick," Scannell said.
Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon tells NBC10 Boston it's a futuristic service that allows on-duty and off-duty officers to be notified immediately if a school shooting were to occur.
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"The most important thing is to get to the target," Solomon said. "If we can interject you here because we came in this door, we stop the carnage of you traveling and we can save a significant amount of lives."
Schools across the U.S. are questioning their safety after Nikolas Cruz, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, opened fire at the school and killed 17 people.
Teachers at Boston Public Schools have been trained not just to respond, but to listen in light of such tragedies. Thursday, the district sent out resources to staff, and advice to parents, about how to talk to their children. They also recently partnered with Sandy Hook Promise for a program aimed at helping students and staff recognize the warning signs of dangerous behavior before it is too late.
"We're looking for signs of depression of disconnectedness," Superintendent Tommy Chang said. "We want to make sure our young people feel that they are part of a community."
