K-12 Schools
Detect a shot anywhere on campus — inside or outside — and trigger law enforcement notification and lockdown protocols in under one second, without waiting for a staff member to make a call.
Explore K-12 →Home → Solutions → Gunshot Detection
A Shot Fired. Law Enforcement Notified. In Under One Second.
Positive Proof gunshot detection identifies a gunshot on campus in under one second — automatically triggering alerts, lockdown protocols, and law enforcement notification before any staff member has time to make a phone call.
THE PROBLEM
Every Second Between Shot and Response Costs Lives
In an active shooter event, the response chain begins with someone hearing a shot and calling 911 — a 60 to 90 second process under ideal conditions, longer under stress. Most harm occurs in the first minutes before law enforcement arrives. Positive Proof gunshot detection removes that delay: acoustic sensors confirm a shot in under one second and automatically notify law enforcement with location.
In an active shooter event, the standard response chain begins with someone hearing a shot and deciding to call 911. That decision — recognizing what happened, finding a phone, dialing, reaching an operator, describing the situation, providing a location — takes 60 to 90 seconds under ideal conditions. In a loud school environment, under extreme stress, or in a situation where the witness cannot safely make a call, it takes longer. Or it doesn't happen at all.
Law enforcement response time is measured from the moment dispatch receives the call — not from the moment the shot was fired. Every second of delay in detection and notification extends the window of unchecked threat. Research on mass casualty events consistently shows that the majority of harm occurs within the first few minutes, before law enforcement arrives. The notification lag is where that harm accumulates.
Beyond the active threat scenario, gunshots on or near campus from external incidents require fast, accurate identification to trigger an appropriate response. Human detection is inconsistent and subject to misidentification. Acoustic gunshot detection differentiates gunshot signatures from other loud noises with high accuracy and fires a response the moment a shot is confirmed.
A shot is fired in a school building and the 90-second window to make a 911 call allows the threat to escalate unchecked
Law enforcement arrives without location data and must search the building while the threat is active
A shot near campus goes undetected for minutes because no staff member was positioned to hear it clearly
An incident occurs in an area of campus — gymnasium, parking lot, portable classroom — where staff presence is low
HOW IT WORKS
How Positive Proof Gunshot Detection Works
Acoustic detection to law enforcement notification in under one second — no human in the loop required.
- 1
Shot Detected
Acoustic sensors installed throughout the facility continuously monitor for gunshot signatures. When a shot is fired, the system identifies the acoustic pattern and confirms detection in under one second — no human trigger required.
- 2
Location Pinpointed
The system triangulates the shot location using data from multiple sensors, identifying the specific area of campus — building, wing, floor, or outdoor zone — where the shot originated.
- 3
Alerts Fire
Simultaneously: administrators receive a platform alert with location data, all staff devices receive notification, PA announcements can trigger automatically, and law enforcement receives direct notification with campus location data.
- 4
Protocols Execute
Configured automated protocols — lockdown commands, door locking, PA announcements — execute simultaneously with the alert. Law enforcement arrives with location data, not just an address.
WHO IT SERVES
Every Facility Where a Gunshot Demands Instant Response
Gunshot detection removes human delay from the most critical moment in any security event.
Government
Secure courthouses, administrative buildings, and public service offices where threat incidents require immediate law enforcement notification and documented response protocols.
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Places of Worship
Protect congregants and staff at religious facilities where public access and community gatherings create exposure to active threat events.
Explore Places of Worship →Deployed across all 13 industries served by Positive Proof. View all industries →
CAPABILITIES
Instant Detection. Automatic Response.
Positive Proof gunshot detection combines precision acoustic sensors throughout the facility, multi-sensor triangulation that pinpoints the shot location, sub-1-second detection from shot fired to alert delivered, automatic law enforcement notification with location data (no 911 call required), automated lockdown protocols, and acoustic signature analysis that differentiates gunshots from fireworks, backfires, and construction noise.
<1
Second to Detect
From shot fired to alert delivered
0
Phone Calls Required
Law enforcement notified automatically with location data
25+
Years Deployed
In K-12 schools and facilities nationwide
SEE IT IN ACTION
See Gunshot Detection in Action
A demo takes less than 30 minutes and includes a live demonstration of acoustic detection, alert transmission, and automated response protocols.
PART OF A UNIFIED SAFETY PLATFORM
Gunshot Detection Works Best With These Solutions
Gunshot detection responds to the worst-case scenario — these solutions build the layers before it gets there within one unified platform.
Panic Buttons
When a threat is visible but a shot has not been fired, panic buttons give staff a one-touch path to law enforcement notification — same response chain, human triggered.
Explore Panic Buttons
Door Monitoring
Gunshot detection responds when a threat is inside. Door monitoring is how you know the moment an unauthorized entry point is breached.
Explore Door Monitoring
Visitor Management
The most effective gunshot detection is never needing it. Visitor Management screens threats before they reach campus.
Explore Visitor ManagementFAQ
Common Questions About Gunshot Detection
Everything you need to know before requesting a demo.
Positive Proof gunshot detection uses acoustic signature analysis to differentiate gunshot sounds from other impulsive noises — including fireworks, backfires, slamming doors, and construction. The system analyzes multiple acoustic characteristics including frequency, duration, and decay pattern to confirm a gunshot before firing an alert. False positive rates are significantly lower than systems that trigger on sound level alone.
When a gunshot is detected, Positive Proof sends a direct alert to local law enforcement dispatch with the facility address and the specific campus zone where the shot was detected. This happens automatically — no phone call, no verbal communication, no human in the loop. Law enforcement arrives knowing the location of the incident, not just the building address.
Automated response protocols are configured during implementation based on your existing infrastructure. Common configurations include: lockdown commands to all staff devices, automated door locking when integrated with compatible access control systems, PA announcements, and simultaneous notification to all staff smartphones. Specific capabilities depend on your facility's existing systems.
Yes. Positive Proof gunshot detection sensors can be deployed in outdoor areas including parking lots, athletic fields, and campus perimeters. Outdoor sensor placement is configured during the site assessment to ensure full campus coverage. Indoor and outdoor sensors operate within the same detection and alert system.
Most deployments can be completed without major construction, using existing network infrastructure for sensor communication. The implementation team conducts a site assessment prior to installation to determine the optimal sensor placement and connectivity approach for your specific campus layout.
Yes. Federal programs including the STOP School Violence Act specifically fund physical threat detection technology including gunshot detection systems. Many districts implement gunshot detection at no district cost through grant funding. See positive-proof.com/school-safety/grants-funding/ for details on available programs and eligibility.
ShotSpotter (now SoundThinking) is designed for outdoor, city-wide deployment — primarily used by law enforcement agencies to detect gunfire on public streets. Positive Proof gunshot detection is purpose-built for campus environments: detecting shots indoors and outdoors across school buildings, gymnasiums, corridors, and parking lots, then automatically triggering school-specific response protocols — lockdown commands, staff device notification, and direct law enforcement alert with campus location data — in under one second. Where ShotSpotter routes to law enforcement dispatch for an officer to respond, Positive Proof simultaneously activates the entire campus response chain without waiting for a dispatch call.
READY TO GET STARTED
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