An vast majority (96 percent) of parents with K-12 school-age children in the United States support a mandate that would require schools to share security camera feeds with 911 dispatch centers during active-shooter scenarios or similar emergencies, according to a new survey. 

Commissioned by Eagle Eye Networks, the survey found that a federal mandate was preferred by 56 percent of parents, 29 percent wanted a community-level requirement, and 11 percent favored a school district mandate.  

Camera Sharing is a new technology that gives 911 dispatchers immediate access to security cameras during an emergency, enabling them with the potential to deliver critical incident information to first responders. 

As the November election draws near, both Democrats (93 percent) and Republicans (91 percent) agree tax dollars should be allocated to fund activation of camera-sharing technology in K-12 schools.  

Among other key findings: 

• 90 percent of those surveyed support allocating existing tax dollars to enable public K-12 schools to activate technology for 911 dispatchers to access real-time security camera feeds in emergencies;
• 86 percent of parents feel safer with a security system enabled for live video communication with a 911 dispatcher;
• Almost 80 percent of respondents feel live-feed visibility into schools via security cameras will save lives during active shooter events.

School leaders and public safety officials say camera sharing can help quickly deliver critical information when time is of the essence.

Damon Grant, co-principal of Oakland Unity Middle School, Oakland, Calif., said “The Eagle Eye Networks 911 Camera Sharing solution we’ve implemented gives first responders critical information in real-time to guide their response to an emergency in our school. The presence of this technology serves as a silent guardian, ready to act if needed, but a resource we hope we will never need.”  

Bill Maverick, a security consultant and retired N.Y. State Police Special Operations Supervisor with expertise in active-shooter response training, said, “First responders often approach the scene of an emergency with very little information about the whereabouts of suspects, innocent bystanders, and the physical layout of the scene. In addition, emergency situations are not static, they’re dynamic, changing from minute to minute. Having telecommunicators feed ongoing real-time information to first responders during an active shooter incident is a game changer, with the potential to dramatically improve outcomes, and save lives.” 

Eagle Eye Networks CEO Dean Drako said, “The public safety experts, school officials, and parents have spoken: There’s resounding support for getting schools across the country to utilize camera sharing technology that will speed up emergency response and increase safety for children, educators, and first responders.”   

The Eagle Eye Networks survey was conducted by Propeller Insights, a Los Angeles-based market research firm. A total of 1,034 parents of K-12 students in the U.S. were surveyed between May 26 and June 5.