LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The School District of Lee County is reporting significant success in reducing school-related security incidents through the use of advanced weapons detection technology. At a Lee County School Board workshop earlier this month, Security and Fleet Operations Chief Dave Newlan shared data affirming the impact of the district’s use of OPEN GATE weapons detection systems from CEIA.
According to Newlan, the introduction of this technology has been instrumental in reducing arrests, civil citations, and notices to appear. The total number of incidents across the district fell dramatically from 604 in 2023 to 366 in 2024, representing a 39% drop, reports The Cape Coral Breeze.
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Local law enforcement agencies have also observed a decline in incidents. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported a 40% reduction, with totals decreasing from 289 in 2023 to 174 in 2024. This includes fewer arrests, which dropped from 82 in 2023 to 57 in 2024, and reductions in civil citations and notices to appear.
The Fort Myers Police Department saw a 29% decrease, reporting 70 incidents in 2023 and 50 in 2024. Meanwhile, the Cape Coral Police Department experienced the most notable decline, with a 42% reduction in incidents over the same period, dropping from 245 to 142. Despite an increase in recorded civil citations from this department, arrests and notices to appear were both significantly lower.
Weapons Detection Credited with Playing Pivotal Role in Boosting School Security
Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin emphasized the importance of safety and security within the district, highlighting the essential role of the OPEN GATE system.
“We are thrilled,” Carlin stated during the workshop, referencing the consistent downward trends across various metrics.
Newlan further elaborated, noting he has raw data that breaks down the specific types of violations and the results for each campus. He cited Mariner High School as a prime example, where the number of citations related to nicotine use has markedly decreased since the implementation of the system.
“No area has shown an increase in incidents,” Newlan added.
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The success of Lee County’s initiative reflects a growing trend highlighted in Campus Safety’s 2024 Weapons Detection Survey. Technologies such as walk-through and hand-held detection systems, which have been adopted by numerous educational facilities, are proving to be effective in enhancing campus safety overall. However, challenges remain, with some campuses citing difficulties related to staffing, training, and integration of these weapons detection systems into broader security measures.
