First School District in Virginia to Receive this Program
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and the Bedford County School Administration will hold a combined press conference on Friday, October 23, 2015, 11:00AM, at Bedford Middle School (503 Longwood Avenue), to formally announce the start of a security project, COPsync, for all elementary, middle and high schools in Bedford County.
After a number of attempts by Sheriff Brown to hire additional School Resource Officers for the elementary schools with negative results, the Sheriff conferred with other law enforcement agencies and school districts throughout the country on alternative methods to provide as much physical and personnel security as possible to the teachers and children in our school system. With recommendations from out of state law enforcement and state school districts the COPsync program was a clear winner.
COPsync operates the nation’s largest law enforcement real-time, in-car information sharing, communications and date interoperability network. The system can inform patrol officers of the threat faster than dialing 9-1-1; hence, the patrol units arrive on the scene quicker and equipped with up-to-the-minute situational information about the unfolding emergency.
Mr. Brandon Flanagan, CEO, will be present to discuss how the system works and what the benefits are of having this system in all of our school facilities.
Also present will be Ms. Debbie Bell, Community Outreach Coordinator, Office of the Attorney General. Governor McAuliffe has expressed great interest in providing additional security measures for the commonwealth’s schools and will be following our progress with great interest and hopefully making available grants for this program to other school systems in the state.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Doug Schuch and Dr. Mac Duis, COO, have been a part of this operation since its inception and have provided invaluable assistance throughout this lengthy process.
October 23, 2015
11:00AM,
Bedford Middle School, 503 Longwood Avenue, Bedford, VA
Download the PDF Press Release
