Page 32 - PCPA Fall 2024 Bulletin Magazine

PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
ENHANCING SCHOOL SAFETY WITH CRG: SUCCESS STORY FROM BEAVER
COUNTY’S SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Enhancing School Safety with CRG:
Success Story from Beaver County’s
South Side School District
In rural Beaver County, Pennsylvania,
the South Side School District (SSSD)
stands as a model for innovative
school safety measures. To ensure
the safety and security of its students
and staff, SSSD has engaged Critical
Response Group (CRG) to create
accurate, up-to-date critical incident
maps of its schools.
The Journey to CRG
CRG’s detailed, gridded maps
of school campuses form the
foundational layer for coordinating
emergency responses. They offer
a precise, unified reference that
integrates crucial information such
as room numbers, access points,
and locations of critical infrastructure
like AEDs and utility shutoffs. Without
such a base, deploying other security
measures—whether AI gun detection,
panic buttons, or camera systems—
can be far less effective. The critical
incident map allows all security
technologies to work in concert,
streamlining response efforts and
ensuring that every second counts in
an emergency.
One year ago, SSSD, utilizing grants
from the Pennsylvania Commission
on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD),
began integrating CRG's mapping
solutions. The district, which includes
an elementary school and a combined
high school/middle school campus,
was motivated by the need for
precise, real-time information during
emergencies.
Unique Challenges in Beaver
County
Beaver County's rural setting presents
unique circumstances that require a
coordinated response from multiple
agencies. In this environment, CRG
plays a critical role by providing a
reliable source of data that can be
accessed by all responding agencies.
Robert Kavals, Chief of Safety
and Security for SSSD’s police
department, emphasizes the
importance of CRG in this context:
"Our school district is in the middle
of the country, so it’s essential that
all responding agencies operate from
the same information. CRG eliminates
any uncertainty by providing a clear,
unified picture of the situation,
ensuring that everyone is on the same
page."
This coordination is vital for seamless
collaboration across different
departments, enabling them to work
together effectively in high-pressure
situations.
Integrating CRG with Other Safety
Systems
SSSD has maximized the utility of
CRG by integrating it with several
other systems, including their PSAP
platforms, emergency panic button
systems, security camera monitoring
software, and the Beaver County 911
dispatch. Kavals detailed the process
and benefits:
"We have our entire campus mapped
into a grid, integrated with our camera
system. Now, state police and 911
dispatch can view live footage by
clicking on camera icons on the grid
map. Each camera is identified by
the school, general area, and grid,
ensuring no confusion during an
emergency."
Comprehensive Training and
Teacher Confidence
Last year, SSSD conducted extensive
training sessions to familiarize staff
with CRG. Teachers were introduced
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