Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

IACP 2019: BodyWorn by Utility Debuts Active Shooter Response Technology

BodyWorn by Utility Inc. has announced the unveiling of Active Shooter Response Technology (ASRT). The company says when it's installed in schools, businesses, stores, and other locations, ASRT provides real-time detection and location reporting of gunshots to reduce response time to active shooter events.

October 31, 2019
4 min to read


BodyWorn by Utility Inc. has announced the unveiling of Active Shooter Response Technology (ASRT). The company says when it's installed in schools, businesses, stores, and other locations, ASRT provides real-time detection and location reporting of gunshots to reduce response time to active shooter events. Utility's new ASRT sensor technology is designed to enable police officers to immediately respond to gunshots the moment they occur, knowing the exact location where the gunshot occurred.

Active Shooter Response Technology is part of BodyWorn's cloud-based ecosystem, AVaiLWeb. Once a gunshot is detected, a real-time alert with geographical location including Classroom number or Hallway ID is wirelessly sent to central dispatch, the nearest responding police officers, command staff, school and business administrators, and other designated personnel.

Ad Loading...

Utility says ASRT intelligent sensors can accurately distinguish gunshots from other loud noises, and provide a room number where the gunshot occurred. Responding police officers have accurate and timely active shooter situational awareness information that increases officer safety and can save citizen lives.

"Utility has had a longstanding relationship with the city of Lawrence, Indiana, and this excellent partnership is now being extended to the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township and its community at no cost. Utility's goal is to expedite the adoption of this transformative technology by working closely with the stakeholders that have the most to gain and to protect," said Ted Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Utility Inc.

"Utility's BodyWorn technology was a game-changer in law enforcement when we implemented it three years ago. I am most pleased with the enhanced officer safety benefits and the revolutionary nature of the software that drives the platform," said Chief David Hofmann of the Lawrence (IN) Police Department. "Very soon, a remarkable and new aspect of our body-worn solution will be launched—an innovative gunshot identification and emergency notification system that has never before been seen. This system will guide police officers directly towards a deadly threat, in real-time, in situations where our most vulnerable population is in extreme danger—an active shooter incident in a school. It will also guide the innocent away from the danger, improving their chance of survival. Utility is delivering technology that will inevitably prevent violence and save lives."

"Providing safe and secure learning environments for the 16,000+ students we serve daily is our top priority," stated Superintendent Dr. Shawn Smith from Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, Indiana. "The decision to implement Utility's technology alongside our ongoing partnership with the Lawrence Police Department demonstrates that commitment and is a critical part of our comprehensive safety plan. When students and staff feel safe, then learning can truly begin."

"The City of Lawrence has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Utility, Inc. to bring cutting-edge body-worn technology to protect the officers who protect our community," said Lawrence Mayor Steven K. Collier. "And now, we are working closely with them to bring a historic new level of safety and protection into our great schools. Partnering with Utility has proven to be the best thing we could do to improve the overall safety of our officers, citizens, school children, and school staff members."

Ad Loading...

BodyWorn by Utility Inc. showed its Active Shooter Response Technology at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference and Exposition in Chicago. At the show, Utility also officially launched its new Smart ALPR, in collaboration with Sony, and the Ultimate Witness, a dedicated court official portal for managing digital evidence.

Utility's Complete Evidence Capture and Management System

Both the BodyWorn camera and the RocketIoT, singularly or in conjunction, utilize their distinctive communication capabilities to activate specific recording triggers that automatically initiate video recording. These triggers are set by the department's individual recording policies—including a built-in accelerometer, prone positioning, light bar sensors in concert with door opening, rapid motion, GeoFence entry, etc.—and can be updated at any time via their video management system, AVaiLWeb. The BodyWorn camera and the RocketIoT system offer integration with real-time GPS reporting of officer and vehicle, auto-related video for synchronized video playback, dockless evidence offload, and more.

For more information, visit https://www.bodyworn.com.

More Technology

Officer smiling with an executive
SponsoredMay 19, 2026

How Patrolfinder Uses Data to Make Streets Safer

Law enforcement agencies have long relied on instinct and routine to optimize patrols. Patrolfinder uses data to help agencies see where officers go — and where they don’t — to improve visibility and maximize coverage.

Read More →
Graphic depicting crime prevention, featuring a shadowed hooded figure against a dark city backdrop with police lights and shield imagery. Text reads: “Crime Prevention Through Remote Guarding with Human Intervention.”
Technologyby Wayne ParhamMay 14, 2026

Crime Prevention by Merging Tech with Human Intervention

Elite Interactive Solutions tackles crime prevention with technology and human intervention, working closely with local police to provide insights when a response is needed. The key is to blend the latest in remote video monitoring, artificial intelligence, and a well-trained agent with eyes on the scene.

Read More →
Close-up of a person holding an Axis body-worn camera toward the viewer. The camera is in sharp focus, while the person wearing a dark uniform appears blurred in the background outdoors.
TechnologyMay 7, 2026

Case Study Details Integration of Body-Worn Cameras with CAD

The Billerica Police Department (Massachusetts) improved transparency and accountability, sharpened evidence management, and reduced manual hours by integrating Axis Communications body-worn cameras with its Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Dark map of downtown Chicago displaying three emergency alerts for reported gunfire near Randolph Street, W Harrison Street, and N Columbus Drive. Blue circular markers indicate locations near Union Park, Clark Art Museum, and Jack Academy High School.
TechnologyMay 7, 2026

ZeroEyes Public Safety Alerts Integrates Samdesk for Real-Time Risk Detection and Awareness

ZeroEyes has integrated Samdesk into its Public Safety Alerts platform to deliver faster, verified intelligence to help organizations understand emerging risks and respond quickly.

Read More →
High-angle view of cars with lights turned on crossing the George Washington Bridge at dusk.
TechnologyMay 7, 2026

NJ Police Department Combines Strong Technology & Public Safety Strategy

The Fort Lee Police Department in New Jersey has modernized with Genetec Security Center, including video management, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), and Clearance digital evidence management.

Read More →
Graphic with image of crime scene investigator and yellow evidence markers and black box covering the persons idenity and headline Automated Redaction.
TechnologyApril 30, 2026

Pimloc & Dynamic Workflow Solutions Partner to Deliver Data Management and Automated Redaction

The joint redaction solution from Pimloc and Dynamic Workflow Solutions helps agencies reduce FOIA response time and compliance risk by automatically redacting faces, license plates, and other sensitive information from digital evidence.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fans cheer at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium during a football game at The University of Alabama.
TechnologyApril 23, 2026

The University of Alabama Rolls Out Couter-Drone Technology

The University of Alabama is using D-Fend Solutions as a counter-drone technology supplier for campus and game-day airspace security. The University integrates D-Fend’s EnforceAir into its Emergency Operations Center (EOC), utilizing a unified command framework to collaborate with local, state, and federal partners during major events.

Read More →
Man working in front of multiple computer screens.
TechnologyApril 22, 2026

Motorola Solutions Now Part of the Cyber Threat Alliance

Motorola Solutions is now part of the Cyber Threat Alliance, the first formally organized nonprofit group of cybersecurity practitioners that work together in good faith to share threat information and improve global defenses against advanced cyber adversaries.

Read More →
Bar chart showing what police departments spend budget on for security.
TechnologyApril 22, 2026

Genetec 2026 State of Physical Security Report Reveals Public Safety Priorities & Challenges

Survey results from Genetec’s 2026 State of Physical Security Report highlight the demand for integrated systems that improve response times and reduce investigative workload. Nearly nine in 10 respondents said they use security data to help keep officers safe.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Tinted blue background image of traffic with inset images for an ALPR camera, a police dispatcher, and a logo for Flock Safety.
TechnologyApril 16, 2026

Flock Safety Introduces Audit Assistance, Its Latest Trust & Compliance Tool

Audit Assistance is the latest tool in the Flock Trust & Compliance suite, a first-of-its-kind set of products and services that provides communities with guardrails and customization for accountability, transparency, and responsible use of the Flock platform.

Read More →