VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – New technology and a new sheriff’s unit are teaming up to target threats faster and more effectively. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office just launched its new Behavioral Threat Unit, timed perfectly for the start of school.
The unit’s goal: get those responsible for threats in handcuffs and prosecuted quickly.
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“The idea is to get ahead of it,” said Capt. Todd Smith, head of Volusia school safety.
The new unit includes three school resource deputies and a lieutenant.
“It gives us an opportunity to have the resources to dedicate specifically to those types of cases. A lot of them are very complex, they require subpoenas, search warrants, understanding IP addresses,” Smith explained.
Last school year, law enforcement investigated more than 900 Fortify Florida tips about rumors, social media posts and other threats. Most were unfounded, but three dozen arrests were made.
Many of those incidents led to school lockdowns.
“Look at the amount of time that’s been taken away from students learning. Add that up. Then, look at the resources that have been invested in that. Quantify that from a numeric standpoint in terms of the cost. It’s astronomical,” Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin said.
The unit works hand in hand with new metal detectors that use AI technology to detect weapons.
Schools are also implementing ZeroEyes, an AI gun detection system that uses cameras.
All these efforts aim to keep students safe with the most advanced means possible.
“We will track them to the ends of the earth and we will hold kids accountable or people accountable that want to disrupt our learning environment,” Smith said.