Sheriff’s Offer NYSSA Rapid Responder Program to Help Improve School Safety
Saratoga Springs, NY (PRWEB) June 10, 2015 -- The New York State Sheriffs’ Association (NYSSA) today announced that they are working with Sheriffs across New York State to offer Rapid Responder®, an affordable emergency response system that provides first responders with instant access to critical site information when responding to an emergency at a school. Rapid Responder® is certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
“Public safety, and particularly school safety, is on everyone’s mind these days. Rapid Responder leverages very accessible technology in an intelligent way that puts vital information at the fingertips of first responders when seconds count,” said NYSSA President, Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour. “As Sheriffs we are committed to keeping the communities we serve safe, and this emergency response program allows us to be proactive in maintaining that safe environment.”
In 10 New York State counties, 35 school districts have already signed up to be a part of the NYSSA Rapid Responder program. The system ensures that comprehensive facility data is available for Sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical services and other first responders in conjunction with facility personnel to cohesively respond to emergencies.
“In the past we had binders and rolled up building plans for each of the 30 schools in our county that had to be sorted through,” said Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy. “The Rapid Responder program organizes all of that information and makes it more readily available. It really has everything well thought out and in place to assist us in emerging incidents.”
Rapid Responder is the most widely deployed system of its kind in the United States, used by approximately 20,000 end users, protecting over 16,000 facilities across 27 states and Canada. Rapid Responder is SAFETY Act Certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a "Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology" and endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
"Among our primary duties as law enforcement officers is the duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Our children are our most valuable resources and we are pleased to team with Rapid Responder to help ensure the safety of our schools by collecting data that will provide our first responders with critical information that is accurate and timely in the event of a crisis," said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo.
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation, formed in 1934, for the purpose of assisting Sheriffs in the efficient and effective delivery of services to the public. It comprises all the elected and appointed Sheriffs of New York State. More information on Rapid Responder and other NYSSA programs such as Operation SAFECHILD, Yellow Dot and GetCrashReports can be found by visiting http://www.nysheriffs.org.
Prepared Response Inc. is the leading innovator of emergency preparedness and crisis management solutions in the nation. For over a decade, Prepared Response has provided industry leading technology and consulting services that have been proven to save lives and mitigate property damage. The company’s flagship product, Rapid Responder, is used by over 1,200 public safety agencies nationwide and is SAFETY Act Certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology, along with being endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association. Rapid Responder is currently deployed in educational facilities, public buildings, critical infrastructure and private facilities across the U.S.
Contact:
New York State Sheriffs’ Association
Charles J. Gallo, cgallo(at)nysheriffs(dot)org, 518.434.9091
Pat Hughes, phughes(at)nysheriffs(dot)org, 518.434.9091
Prepared Response, Inc.
Lindsay Stanford, lstanford(at)preparedresponse(dot)com, 253.299.2596
Pat Hughes, NY State Sheriffs' Association, 518-434-9091, [email protected]
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