DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Officials in Daytona Beach on Wednesday approved the purchase of a new system that uses A.I. to detect guns and help police respond to gun violence faster.
The system, called ZeroEyes, can detect firearms through cameras before any shots are fired. While several school districts in Central Florida already use it, Daytona Beach will be one of the first cities in the area to have it.
Seabreeze Boulevard is set to be the first location in the city to receive these monitors. This area is an entertainment district where the police have increased their presence with a new substation and real-time cameras following several shootings and other crimes over the past three years.
“Seabreeze is No. 1, but I’m also looking at the boardwalk, Main Street, and Joe Harris Park on the west side of the city. Just to be able to get that heads up and be en route before shots are fired,” said Police Chief Jakari Young said.
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In situations where every second counts, Chief Young thinks ZeroEyes will help them respond to gun-related incidents more quickly.
“From the moment a firearm is brandished, you will get an alert, and they actually put a box around the firearm. They’re not just solely trusting the technology. They have a live human being in a monitoring center,” he said.
The A.I. technology is designed to detect guns that are visible to cameras equipped with its software. The images are then sent to ZeroEyes' operation center. The city says if there is a valid threat, the police will get an alert.
“Realistically, I know nothing is foolproof, and there’s a possibility we get this technology and still have shootings, but I feel like every second matters,” Young explained. “Even if we don’t get there in time to prevent the shooting, if we get there in time to apprehend the suspect, I think that’s a win still.”
The chief said that homicides in Daytona Beach dropped by 50% last year, with homicides decreasing from 17 in 2023 to eight in 2024. He credits the drop partly to the increased visibility of new crime units and technology.
“I think that visibility is key to keeping a lot of incidents down that are occurring out in public spaces,” he said.
Business owners on Seabreeze Boulevard have also noticed a positive change and are pleased to hear that the police are continuing to enhance security measures.
“Everything helps. It’s like having a dog in your house. Chances are the person will go someplace that doesn’t have a dog. The same thing holds on something like this,” said business owner Lyle Trachtman.
The chief plans to use a grant to purchase ZeroEyes. He presented the idea Wednesday to the city council, which approved the plan. Now, the chief will work with his team to determine the best locations for the technology both beachside and on the mainland.
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