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Volusia deploys AI and live‑911 in DeBary; schools add metal detectors and a juvenile threat unit
Summary
Volusia County communications and school safety officials described new technology deployments: live‑911 audio for patrol, AI handling nonemergency calls and real‑time transcription/translation, and school safeguards including metal detectors, a behavioral threat team and an AI camera system.
Volusia County communications and school safety officials demonstrated new technology and procedures they say are improving emergency response and school security in DeBary and across the county.
Carolyn, the county communications director, described live‑911 — a system that lets responding officers hear 911 calls in real time — and said it shortens critical response time by cutting relay steps between call taker and dispatcher. "When somebody calls 911, the officers can hear that 911 call in real time," she said, adding that the system has already sped some responses.
County staff also described an AI system deployed to handle nonemergency calls. The AI prompts callers, collects standard information and routes or closes nonurgent reports so human call takers can focus on 911 traffic. Officials said the system helped raise call‑answer performance to about 98%, above the state standard of 90%. The communications center also uses real‑time transcription and multi‑language translation — staff said the system supports about 120 languages and provides on‑screen transcription that dispatchers can vet.
Separately, Daphton Smith, commander of the youth services section and director of safety and security for Volusia County Schools, outlined school safety measures for the coming year. Smith said metal detectors are being rolled out to high schools in phased deployments, beginning with Pine Ridge High School. The district also created a juvenile behavioral threat unit staffed with detectives and a sergeant to investigate school threats and coordinate interventions.
Smith described an AI‑driven camera system known as 0 Eyes that the district says identifies firearms on campus and alerts deputies and school guardians in real time with the camera location and stills. "If there's a firearm on our campus, it will recognize that and notifies us in real time," Smith said, and he cited a recent alert that detected a toy gun as evidence the system can generate actionable notifications.
County presenters said the combination of live‑911, caller‑handling AI, real‑time transcription and school‑focused AI should improve response times and threat detection. Officials emphasized human oversight: supervisors and dispatchers review AI‑handled calls and can transfer callers to a live dispatcher when the system recognizes an emergency.
