Mobile Safety App Aims To Enhance School Security

First responders in Crawford County are leading an effort to implement Rave Mobile Safety, a system that provides a quicker response to emergency situations.

Crawford County Sheriff Darin Layman and Bourbon Deputy Fire Chief Steve Kimker presented the benefits of Rave to Bourbon School Board members on April 19. 

Following the school shooting at Majory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Fla. Feb. 14, the school district has been looking to take steps to enhance security. The district is working with Layman and Bourbon Police Chief Paul Satterfield to possibly add a school resource officer (SRO), but in the meantime, the RaveAlert app would provide an alert to first responders in just 1.5 seconds. 

Kimker said the system, which is used by colleges, universities and counties around the country, can process 21,000 texts per second and 34,000 texts per minute.

There are buttons on the app that correspond to the emergency, whether it is fire, police or ambulance. 

“If there is an active shooter, all law enforcement will get a notification in 1.5 seconds,” Kimker told the board, adding that even fire an ambulance will be alerted. A geo-locater will be able to map exactly where the alert is coming from on the premises. 

Kimker said first responders have looked at different systems, but none compared to Rave. 

The cost to the school district would be approximately $3,000 and $15 per person to have the panic button feature, which provides the 1.5 second response. Kimker said they are ready to go on a contract and hoped to have it signed by May 15. 

Crawford County is hoping to have it implemented by the first big floating weekend and ready to roll out by the next school year.