CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As school districts across the country try new gunshot detection technology, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools does not intend to follow the lead of other school systems.
The technology promises to quickly direct police to the exact location of gunfire. Several companies have developed gunshot detection systems in recent years, including a North Carolina company.
CMS believes it already has the best prevention tool in place.
"We're certain there are more than a hundred items on the market with various claims to address a particular need area," CMS said in a statement. "The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district is not in the business of test marketing products, goods or services. CMS seeks to find the best solutions to address the need, based on best practices and meeting the needs of our particular school district. CMS does not purchase products because other school districts in other parts of the county have chosen to do so. CMS feels the ammunition detection K-9 best addresses the need of preventing firearms in our schools. CMS feels prevention is key."
The district added a gun-sniffing dog this year and maintains CMS is the only school system in the country with its own K-9. CMS also implemented random searches with metal detecting wands and added a new alert system this year.
Lawrence Township Public Schools, located in a suburb of Indianapolis, recently unveiled plans to use the technology in its schools. Manassas City Public Schools in Virginia has shown interest in a similar gunshot detection system.
In North Carolina, a charter school in High Point is using the kind of technology too, which connects with surveillance cameras and 911.
We reached out to other districts across the Charlotte-area Wednesday morning to see where they stand on gunshot detection systems.
We have not yet heard back.