Montgomery County Schools in North Carolina and area law enforcement agencies will soon deploy an advanced software tool that enables faculty, staff and administrators throughout the district to communicate directly with police officers in the event of an emergency or security intrusion.

By partnering with Boston-based In Force Technology, LLC, the school district will be equipped with the IN FORCE911 desktop and mobile software application. The software will help significantly reduce police response time to buildings and specific locations inside buildings during a critical event at a school while addressing the communications barrier that unfortunately exists during active shooter incidents.

It is a software tool that school officials, police officers and the developers hope is never needed, however the leadership of the Montgomery County Schools believes that this level of preparation and sophistication could provide a vital link between those inside a school building and those rushing to help, when seconds count.

The IN FORCE911 app empowers school employees with the ability to launch an alert in seconds from their desktop or mobile device, rather than minutes, with the current 911 system. Rather than waiting for calls to route through statewide or county-wide dispatch systems, IN FORCE911 sends alerts and messages directly to the terminals and mobile devices of police officers in a specified area.

During an emergency, the alert is sent directly to the dispatch center, police cruisers and cell phones of officers with specific information, including the room of origin. It also opens a two-way chat dialogue, in real-time, allowing staff to communicate details of a threat or description of a suspect to first responders. Additionally, first responders are provided access to floor plans, security camera feeds and other emergency information to help them plan the best response.

“We are so excited to deploy In Force911 in Montgomery County Schools,” Superintendent Dale Ellis said. “The safety of our students is always our top priority. When looking at alternatives to improve communication with staff during a critical incident response, In Force911 was the clear choice for our school system. We are excited to partner with them to help make our schools as safe as they can be.”

Brandon Flanagan, president and CEO of In Force Technology said, “Reducing communication barriers in the event of an emergency has the potential to save lives and make a dramatic difference in the response time of first responders, and we’re pleased to be able to work with Montgomery County Schools to deploy IN FORCE911 to that end. We hope this technology empowers staff within the district with the ability to contact and alert law enforcement immediately, if necessary.”