This Delaware school district is now using an AI device to detect weapons at sporting events, here’s how

MIDDLETOWN, DE – They are passionate about Jaguars football at Appoquinimink High School.

“Friday nights are a great environment to make sure the bands are playing, the cheerleaders are on the track and everyone is focused on the game,” said Amanda Conley, Director of Safety, Security and Operations for the Appoquinimink School District.

While fans focus on goals and steals, fans in the Appoquinimink School District focus on safety.

In September 2022, two people were injured in a shooting after a football game near Appoquinimink High School.

In February 2023 of the same school year, a gun was fired in a hallway near the gym during a basketball game at the school.

Luckily no one was injured and the match was abandoned.

“We are a community, we have three high schools and we want families to come to our events. Whether it’s Friday night football games or any athletic event, we want them to feel safe,” Conley said.

The method of providing additional protection to all three high schools begins with the first ticket and bag check.

Everyone then has to walk through an EVOLV AI device, which resembles a metal detector and searches for weapons based on their shape and size.

When a weapon is detected, it will be displayed on the security screen, with a box around the image of where the device believes the weapon is.

This is the second time the district has used the device, and officials say so far everything is going well.

“It’s been going very well, there’s been a few hiccups with people getting into the flow, we want you to keep moving, that’s what the system is designed for, we put up signs that say what you can bring, what you can’t bring. So as far as communicating with the community, they’ve been very open to it,” said Terre Taylor, Senior Coordinator of Student Services for the Appoquinimink School District.

Appoquinimink School District was one of the first districts to receive the devices, and now other districts around the state, like Seaford School District and Cape Henlopen, are doing the same to protect their students and fans.

“This is something that we celebrate in our school district, we want to be the first and we want to keep the safety of our staff, our students and our community at the forefront of our minds,” Conley said.

Those who do not want to go inside due to health problems only need to show their health card and then be allowed inside.