Protecting 25,000 Student in Today's World

Emergency Communications

Video surveillance integrated with intrusion and fire alarm systems gives the CUSD police the real-time information they need, providing intelligence that helps keep the officers safe when they respond to a situation.

The Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Police Department, which is using a Dahua Technology surveillance solution, has an admirable commitment to protecting the district’s 25,000 students.

The CUSD police department was created in 1968 due to an increasing need for a police force that understood the unique challenges of an educational environment. Today, their comprehensive security system covers 37 schools and six district office.

CUSD chose a Dahua IP video surveillance system. This is a complete solution for the school system with Wi-Fi cameras, NVRs, three smart switches, and a surveillance management center. Local installer Advanced Alarm Inc. has outfitted the police department complex, warehouses, transportation facilities, various school sites, and administrative offices with surveillance. IP surveillance, of course, comes with the additional benefit of remote access, which is huge. As William Wu, J.D., chief of Police for CUSD explains, “Having a comprehensive safety and protection plan in today’s world means having real-time information on what is happening at various locations over which we are responsible.”

Wu points to the remote access capability of his system as a huge benefit, “For me, or the deputy superintendent, or anyone else who has access to the video surveillance system, we can see it from home, or as we’re driving on patrol. We can pull up video feeds of various sites, so that gives us the capability that a fixed access console system doesn’t have.”

We are always looking for ways to improve on how we perform our mission,” he continues. “It is unfortunate, but in the world that we live in, no matter what your job is at the school, security has to be on your mind somewhere. We don’t have the luxury of forgetting about security.”

www.dahuasecurity.com

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management March 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.