Campus Guardian Angel says it uses non-lethal drones, which can respond to a school threat in seconds and incapacitate a gunman.
HOUSTON — A Texas company wants to deploy new technology to stop school shootings.
Campus Guardian Angel says it uses non-lethal drones, and they can respond to a threat in seconds. They say it’s a potential solution that could keep students, staff and responding officers safe.
School police chiefs and other law enforcement leaders are getting a first-hand look at new technology meant to keep kids safe, including drones.
They learned more about Campus Guardian Angel in Galveston recently at the Texas School District Police Chiefs Association Conference at Moody Gardens.
“Our job is to respond in five seconds, be on the shooter in 15 seconds, and degrade or incapacitate in 60 seconds,” Justin Marston, founder of Campus Guardian Angel, explained.
He said the remotely piloted drones could be pre-staged on a campus. Activated by a panic button, Marston said they would act like a sprinkler system in a fire.
The team demonstrated the drones at the conference. They are equipped with sirens, flashing lights and pepper guns and can fly directly at a suspect at high speed to take them out.
“We’ve done joint training now in both Florida and in Texas with law enforcement,” Marston said.
He said they’re in talks with Spring Branch ISD to use drones at Memorial High School, which had a school shooting threat this year.
“We’ve already done 3D scans, we’ve come up with a deployment plan, and some of the parents there are actually coming together to find funding themselves,” Marston told KHOU 11. “When we show this to law enforcement officers…they don’t have to run in a room and hope they don’t get shot anymore.”
“Spring Branch ISD and the Spring Branch ISD Police Department have a shared commitment to safety and security as our very highest priority,” the district said in a statement. “Thus, we remain committed to exploring technologies such as drones that would enable us to continue to strengthen safety and security for all in our district.”
Klein ISD Police Chief Marlon Runnels said they’ll evaluate any technology that could be useful in stopping a threat.
“We want to be able to access and utilize any resources we have available, so utilizing drones, various firearms systems, detection systems that are on display as well can be absolutely beneficial,” Runnels told us.