ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection deployed by Texas health network
James Humphreys
Share this content
ZeroEyes has announced that its proactive gun detection and intelligent situational awareness solution has been deployed at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas, to mitigate gun-related violence.
Located in Tarrant County, the 582-bed hospital includes an acute care facility, outpatient care centers and psychiatric emergency room.
Its Level I Trauma Center receives over 125,000 emergency department visits annually from local and air EMS agencies, as well as others outside the county.
Increased safety with AI gun detection
“At the hospital, we witness first-hand the impact of gun violence, which is why we strive to safeguard our patients, staff and visitors,” said Randell Hayen, Chief of the Tarrant County Hospital District Police Department.
“Along with our onsite police department, adding ZeroEyes gives us another tool to use to do just that.”
ZeroEyes’ HIPAA-compliant artificial intelligence (AI) gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software is now layered onto existing digital security cameras at JPS Health Network.
If a gun is identified, images are instantly shared with the ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC), staffed 24/7/365 by specially trained US military and law enforcement veterans.
If these experts determine that the threat is valid, they dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence — including visual description, gun type and last known location — to the on-site hospital police department as quickly as three to five seconds from detection.
Rise in gun violence
The ZeroEyes Research Center has found that nearly 50% of gun violence incidents at healthcare facilities take place within the building – among these incidents, 42% are targeted attacks, while 39% are spontaneous.
According to the company, although hospitals are entrusted with caring for the victims of gun-related violence, this surge in violent incidents within healthcare facilities has prompted approximately 40 states to enact or strengthen laws regarding violence against healthcare workers.
“Hospitals are inherently fast-paced environments where people are already vulnerable and the size of the JPS facility makes the job of its police force and security teams even more challenging,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and Co-Founder of ZeroEyes.
“I personally believe that the hospital’s deployment of ZeroEyes underscores its unwavering commitment to staying ahead of the curve in safety and security while providing exceptional care for its community.”