The Challenge:
Increasing Violence is Not a Question of “If”, but “When”
New York City is experiencing surges in violence, with shootings, stabbings, and killings on the rise.
According to police sources, ten percent of shooting victims in New York City are juveniles. Further, the number of gun arrests in the city continues to explode. Even among those 18 and under, these rose to 448 in 2022 — a 64% increase from 2017.
Increasingly, schools face demands from parents to take definitive action to increase security, as many parents are losing faith in the ability of schools to protect their children from harm.
For St. Athanasius Catholic Academy in Brooklyn, New York, keeping students and teachers safe from harm is paramount. With an enrollment of over 300 students – ranging from 3-year-olds in pre-kindergarten to eighth graders – the potential for danger is very real.
“Parents are nervous,” said Diane Competello, principal of St. Athanasius, discussing the increase in school violence. As the lead administrator at the academy, she sees firsthand how safety concerns in the city impact education, with some parents opting to homeschool as a result.
“Violence near the Academy and in nearby public buildings is always a threat,” said Monsignor David Cassato, New York City police chaplain and vicar for Catholic Schools of Brooklyn and Queens, of which St. Athanasius is a member. He referenced two recent incidents: a shooting that took place about a block away from St. Athanasius, and a stabbing in Williamsburg – two blocks from a church.
“You know, what do they say? It’s not the question of if, it’s the question of when,” said Monsignor David Cassato. “We’re very blessed so far in NYC that [a mass school shooting] has not yet happened.. [but] these incidents are happening more and more every day.”
The Change:
The Gold Standard In Emergency Prevention, Monitoring, and Response
St. Athanasius Academy decided to take action. The school installed SOS Technologies’ revolutionary SmartSOS™ security platform – the emergency prevention, monitoring, and response system that incorporates leading-edge technologies and interoperability – to keep their students, teachers, and faculty safe.
“All you have to do is turn the news on in the city of New York to learn these dangers exist,” said Monsignor Cassato. “I’ve never personally worried about my safety in the streets of New York or at church like I do now.”
The Academy can now mitigate the risk of the unknown while taking an active stance against nearby dangers and threats of violence.
“I guarantee you, right now, St. Athanasius Catholic Academy is the safest school in all of Brooklyn and Queens, and probably throughout the city, because of SOS Technologies and technology installed,” said Monsignor Cassato.
The Partnership:
Exploring the SmartSOSTM Platform and Installation
SOS Technologies provides a premium, holistic emergency response solution. It is the only patented emergency monitoring and response platform in the United States that connects directly to law enforcement and first responders.
Active 24/7/365, the SmartSOS™ platform provides St. Athanasius with comprehensive protection. It is impervious to service disruptions from power outages, wi-fi network outages, and mobile service coverage issues. Its revolutionary, leading-edge wireless communication and threat surveillance technologies easily integrate into their local infrastructure.
The SOS Technologies team equipped St. Athanasius with:
- Alert buttons
- Wearable alert-button pendants
- Display monitors
- SmartSOS™ Hub–a compact computer server wirelessly connected to panic buttons, pendants, and signal boosters/repeaters
- Signal frequency repeater–which boosts and extends the signal from wall-mounted panic buttons and pendants to the Hub
Installation at the academy was “perfect,” Principal Competello noted. “They were so professional, so courteous, so neat and clean about everything they did. I had students in the building being taught the entire time and there was not one minute of interruption or intrusion or anything. They were so respectful. I have to say it was such a credit to the company. I was really impressed, even from everybody that I spoke to on the telephone.”
After installation, the SOS Technologies team held platform training sessions for the academy’s teachers, directors of after-school programs, custodial staff, and office staff.”
“They did it well and they did it completely,” recalled Monsignor Cassato. “It brought a great sense of security.”
The Effect:
Making an Immediate and Long-Lasting Impact
What impresses Principal Competello the most about the platform is “its immediate contact with emergency responders.” She cited her experience with the traditional 911 call process to emphasize the superior efficiency of the SmartSOS™ platform.
“I have called 911 for medical emergencies. They ask you, ‘What’s the name of your school? What’s your address? Could you repeat that? Could you spell that again?’ And meanwhile, someone’s bleeding.”
With just the press of a button, the platform instantly conveys all vital information directly to law enforcement and first responders. She marveled at “just the amount of time it will save.”
“There’s nothing wasted,” she continued. “If we need help, we get it immediately. That’s very impressive.”
Monsignor Cassato echoed Principal Competello’s feelings. “I think the greatest thing is the contact to law enforcement. Because every second counts, and the contact with law enforcement is critical. The quicker things happen, the better. If it’s seconds, it’s a lot different than minutes. And when there’s an active shooter in a building, it’s really down to the seconds. And how many people’s lives can be saved by seconds.
“SOS Technologies… lets people know that we are safe,” said Monsignor Cassato, “and we can handle situations that many schools can’t. Our teachers are grateful. Parents are saying, ‘It’s amazing.’ The principal is totally impressed. Because this is a critical, critical issue for kids in schools today. Everybody worries about ‘my kid.’”
Principal Competello noted that St. Athanasius will be better able to retain staff because it is a safe environment to teach in, where teachers are enabled to focus their attention on educating students.
Regarding student enrollment, Monsignor Cassato stated, “When you meet parents one on one, what are the biggest things you bring up? We’re safe. We got this [technology] before anybody else. It’s technology that is critically important for the safety of our school.”
With the SmartSOS™ platform, parents can drop their children off at school “and feel that sense of peace of mind, contentment, to know that your kid is safe,” he continued. Parents worry all day long about what’s going on in their schools. And anytime there’s a disruption in a school in other parts of the country, people become much more aware of it.”
For teachers and students, “SOS Technologies makes them feel, right here in the center of their being,” Monsignor Cassato said, pointing to his heart, “safe about going to school.”
“If we need help, we get it immediately. That's very impressive.”
The Future:
Achieving Unrivaled Security and Peace of Mind
In addition to being a parish priest for 51 years and a vicar for Catholic schools for the past three years, Monsignor Cassato has also served for more than 20 years as a police chaplain for the City of New York. “I’ve been around the block, so to speak, in my work as a priest and a police chaplain,” he said. Who better than him to understand the dangers of everyday life and the importance of keeping safe?
“Knowing what goes on in the police department opens my eyes to many more things that most people don’t know. And the issue of safety is the greatest concern for people today.”
“I would yell it out on the rooftops, ‘Wake up! wake up!’ That’s what people need–a wake-up call,” he stressed. Wake up and put SOS Technologies in. The city of New York should put it in all their schools. And we would sleep a lot better at night, knowing our kids are safe…. I am indeed thankful for SOS Technologies, and the people behind it.”
Principal Competello agrees: “It’s just a dream, really, to say to parents that I can protect your child. That’s what every parent wants to hear.”
Learn more about how the SmartSOS™ platform can keep your organization safe: contact us to schedule a presentation.