OLCHS Wins Omnilert Grant To Install AI-Gun Detection System

OAK LAWN, IL – Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 is one of 50 recipients nationwide to receive an Omnilert Secure Schools Grant Program grant. Through this highly competitive program, the Dist. 229 has been awarded a three-year license for Omnilert Gun Detect, an advanced AI-powered gun detection technology, at no cost.

The cutting-edge system uses AI algorithms to identify firearms in real-time by visually scanning existing security and surveillance cameras for guns. In the event a gun is spotted or brandished, the system by immediately alerting school officials and police. It can also lock doors, and send out emergency alerts and alarms. The goal is to provide faster response times as soon as gun threats are detected.

“We are honored to be selected for the Omnilert Secure Schools Grant,” Dist. 229 Superintendent Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian said in a news release. “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. This new technology will significantly enhance our ability to respond to threats proactively, reinforcing our strong commitment to providing a safe and secure learning environment.”

The grant covers one gun detection appliance which can cover 20 to 45 camera streams depending on resolution. The company will work with the school to help OLCHS select the best cameras for the technology to cover entrances, hallways, etc. The grant also includes third-party visual monitoring as part of Omnilert’s service.

“These notifications also include a video, photo, map and GPS coordinates of the gunman,” said company spokesman Blake Mitchell. “We also can take over screens with emergency messaging, trigger alarms, sirens and more. This is a key differentiator that sets us apart from the competition.”

The company recommends a layered approach to building security, such as a door entry pass-through system that can detect concealed weapons. The system does not include any kind of facial recognition to identify people, but will be strictly used for gun detection, according to the company.

OLCHS does not currently have a system that students and staff have to pass through to enter the building. A school official told Patch the district is currently looking into systems.

The Omnilert Secure Schools Program was created after the 2022 mass school shooting Uvalde, Tex., when a gunman entered Robb Elementary School and fatally shot 19 students and two teachers. Law enforcement there drew criticism for its delayed and sloppy response that may have cost additional lives.

The Uvalde school district was awarded a $400,000 under Omnilert’s Safe Haven Grant Program, which is awarded to schools that have been the scene of mass shootings.

Installation and integration of the system will begin during the 2025-2026, with staff training and safety drills to ensure the technology is used effectively and responsibly.