Future Of Artificial Intelligence Security System Uncertain In Baltimore County Schools

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Should an artificial intelligence security system still be used in Baltimore County Public Schools?

The district is asking families that question after two high-profile incidents caused a stir. Families can share their thoughts in this BCPS survey until Wednesday.

School leaders will consider the results when deciding whether to continue using the Omnilert AI system in fiscal year 2027, which starts on July 1, 2026. BCPS is paying $399,440 for Omnilert in fiscal year 2026.

“As we develop the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Baltimore County Public Schools is seeking feedback from families and staff regarding our continued investment in weapons detection as part of our comprehensive school safety strategy,” the BCPS survey said. “Initial input from principals and the Baltimore County Council of PTAs has already been gathered, and now we want to hear directly from you. Your feedback will inform next steps related to the future use of Omnilert in BCPS.”

In October, the Omnilert AI system flagged a bag of chips as a possible gun at Kenwood High School in Essex. Several high schoolers were handcuffed until responding officers realized there was no threat.

Earlier this month, Parkville High School students were relocated while police investigated an Omnilert report of a potential gun. Authorities found no weapon during that incident either.

BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers has said Omnilert worked as intended in both situations. The system spots potential weapons and notifies humans to determine if further intervention is necessary.

“When Omnilert identifies an image of an object believed to meet specific characteristics of a firearm, it automatically generates an alert—all alerts are based on objects, not individuals,” the survey said. “The alert is then immediately reviewed by trained BCPS safety professionals in the BCPS Department of School Safety and Baltimore County Police Department (“BCoPD”) Safe Schools. They then validate or cancel the alert. If validated, the BCPS Department of School Safety notifies the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) to initiate a response. If cancelled, no further law enforcement or safety action is taken.”

In the Kenwood incident, the BCPS Department of School Safety had already canceled the alert and deemed it non-threatening, but the school resource officer called the local precinct because it was after hours. The ensuing search led BCPS to promise annual training on protocols for responding to Omnilert notifications.

All public schools in Baltimore County have been equipped with Omnilert since May 2024. The system leverages more than 7,000 existing security cameras and adds Omnilert’s weapons detection feature to these already active camera feeds.

BCPS said Omnilert:

• Provides continuous monitoring of interior and exterior cameras, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Tracks an identified object across multiple camera views.
• Supports coordination of emergency safety responses when necessary.

The system, however, has some limitations. BCPS said Omnilert:

• Does not have X-ray vision.
• Does not replace the need for human review and professional confirmation of alerts.
• Cannot detect or report weapons that are outside the camera’s field of view.

“In response to rising concerns about school safety from parents/caregivers and staff, BCPS has employed a layered approach to school safety that includes technology,” the survey said. “The school system implemented Omnilert, a weapons detection system that works with existing cameras, to proactively identify potential threats.”

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