Philadelphia to Use Drones, More Metal Detectors to Secure Schools

With classes beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, Philadelphia school administrators, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and Mayor Jim Kenney on Wednesday afternoon outlined the city’s security strategy for the academic year.

School leaders intend to install gun detection systems in the dozen or so public middle schools. Metal detectors are already set up at district-operated high schools, Metro Philadelphia reports.

Philadelphia’s public schools are retraining staff to use new protocols for active shooter training, shifting from a model known as Run. Hide. Fight. to ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) .

School officials are also interested in expanding the use of drones equipped with cameras. The devices could help surveil sporting events and corridors where students walk to and from school, he added.