School board learns benefits of Hero911 app

An application for active law enforcement officers, dedicated to reduce law enforcement response time to active school shooting incidents, was a topic of discussion during public participation at the Oct. 17 Summerland Board of Education meeting.

Board president Ed Nordby presented the Hero911 app to the board more than a year ago.

"I think it's a really good thing the school should look into," Nordby said.

Summerland patron Daniel Parker, who works as a Nebraska State Patrol investigator, said the app is a three-prong program.

"Six-minutes of training for your faculty members. It's simply an app on the phone."

Parker said Summerland School is "a completely different situation" than a school in a larger city, like Omaha, where there are multiple agencies that may respond to a call.

"In Antelope County, the two closest law enforcement officers are Ed (Nordby) and me. The 911 call isn't coming to his county and I'm the last person who's going to be notified," Parker said.

He said he can respond to a call at the school within eight minutes.

The app works when an administrator - which could be any faculty member who has the app installed - hits a button. The first option is for an armed intruder. The app dials 911 immediately. It will alert everyone in the facility, who has the app, that the call was made, as well as the location and the type of call.

It also alerts others, within a five-mile radius, that the school is on lockdown.

"The best thing ... every law enforcement officer who has the app on their phone, it alerts them directly if they are within 25 miles," Parker said.

He expressed concerns if a call goes into a 911 center, since they may not notify off-duty law enforcement officers.

Parker said the app also allows for speed-dialing 911 and it will notify if there is a disruption, such as a fight, in the school.

A GPS location will show up in the app.

Parker said the app will only work when users are at school.

"This is a unique situation, being on the edge of one county, you're in one jurisdiction, we're all rural. To me, this seems something that would fit," Parker said.

Nordby noted the cost to implement the program runs approximately $1,000, with a $100 monthly fee.

Another safety feature the school may consider is Clear Armor.

"It's window tint, thick window tint," Parker said.

The product could be applied to exterior or interior windows.

"We would much rather, as law enforcement, battle this from the outside. If they can't get in your building, it's way easier for us and safer for you and the students," Parker said. "If we can exclude someone from the building for 15 minutes, chances are you're going to have someone from our end coming. One on one outside is way better than inside."

Parker asked the board to consider the two products.

Steven Thiele asked how to ensure law enforcement officers in the area have the app.

"It's as simple as going to the sheriff's office to ask them to use it," Parker said. "It's voluntary."

Not every person is able to use the app. A screening process is enforced and the app is restricted to "active law enforcement officers in good standing of a federal, state or local law enforcement agency, or a retired officer in good standing, as defined in accordance with 18 USC ¶ 926C, a "qualified retired law enforcement officer," according to the app's website.

Candice Hoke expressed concern about cell phone service at the school.

"At least they'll know where it came from," Nordby said.

No action was taken by the board.