Mayor Adams Announces Nation’s First Technology Integrating Public Schools with 911 for Rapid Response to Active Shooter Situations
October 27, 2025 — New York City
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser today unveiled a groundbreaking emergency alert system that directly integrates public schools with 911 services to accelerate police response during active shooter or weapon-based threat scenarios. This pioneering technology, developed by the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), debuted at the Spring Creek campus in Brooklyn, marking the first school building in the United States to implement such direct 911 connectivity.
The pilot program will expand during the 2025-2026 school year to include 25 school buildings, representing 51 public schools across all five boroughs. This Emergency Alert System (EAS) creates an immediate, secure, and automated emergency notification that ensures law enforcement is alerted within seconds when a school experiences a hard lockdown involving a weapon-related threat.
Rapid Response for Safer Schools
“Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity and the key to delivering for working-class families,” Mayor Adams stated. “Our students deserve to feel safe at school; parents must have peace of mind knowing their children are secure, and teachers should be able to focus on education, confident in their environment’s safety.”
Mayor Adams highlighted the city’s commitment to reducing gun violence alongside this innovation, recognizing efforts that have removed over 24,000 illegal guns from the streets since January 2022. “Now, we’re making sure our classrooms have the strongest, fastest protection possible,” he said.
CTO Matthew Fraser emphasized the significance of the initiative: “This brand-new Emergency Alert System, the nation’s first to directly integrate schools with 911 in a hard lockdown event, marks a crucial advance in our city’s broader school safety efforts and provides additional peace of mind—a priceless commodity—for parents and families.”
How the Emergency Alert System Works
EAS can be activated via multiple fixed buttons and wireless lanyards installed throughout participating schools. Once triggered during a weapon-based threat or active shooter event, the system bypasses the typical 911 call flow and connects the school directly to real-time emergency dispatch centers in under 10 seconds.
Dispatchers immediately broadcast alerts to responders and access vital school-specific information through an integrated dashboard. Simultaneously, schools receive audible and visual indicators confirming that 911 has been notified and that a hard lockdown is in effect. Electronic notifications are also sent to NYPD School Safety and New York City Public Schools officials to coordinate a swift and precise response.
Collaboration and Innovation
OTI’s Public Safety and Emergency Management division collaborated closely with the Mayor’s Office, NYC Public Schools, and NYPD’s School Safety Division to design the system. The team addressed a critical gap: no existing product on the market provided direct 911 connectivity without routing calls through remote centers, potentially delaying response times.
After extensive research and testing, OTI partnered with an external vendor to custom-build the EAS, confirming performance in their internal labs. They also developed comprehensive dashboards to provide emergency responders and school officials with real-time insights during incidents.
Context of School Safety and Gun Violence
According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, more than 1,900 school shooting incidents occurred nationwide between 2015 and September 2025, with peaks of 351 incidents in 2023 and 336 in 2024. Despite this concerning trend nationally, New York City has seen dramatic improvements. Since Mayor Adams took office, shootings have decreased by 67% citywide, major crimes have dropped by 3.8% as of September 2025, and over 24,000 illegal firearms have been confiscated.
Statements from City Officials and Community Leaders
New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos expressed strong support for the initiative. “There is nothing more important than the safety of our young people. This pilot adds another layer of security and peace of mind to our school communities,” she said, noting it complements existing measures such as locked entrances, NYPD School Safety Agents, and established emergency protocols.
State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud praised the administration’s forward-thinking approach: “The launch of this groundbreaking Emergency Alert System represents a vital step forward in strengthening rapid response and protecting lives in our schools.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon also voiced their endorsement, underscoring the significance of rapid response capabilities in protecting students, educators, and communities.
Looking Ahead
As this nation-first program is implemented across 51 schools in all five boroughs, New York City aims to set a new standard for school safety technology. The Adams administration continues its commitment to protecting families by leveraging innovative solutions to prevent and respond to emergencies swiftly.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Office of the Mayor Press Office
Email: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov
Phone: (212) 788-2958
This initiative highlights New York City’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to ensure the safety and security of its public schools, keeping students safe and parents reassured in an uncertain national climate.
