We’re learning more about how law enforcement responded to a hoax 911 call last Thursday that falsely reported an active shooter on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.
One of the key tools used in the emergency response was the university’s security camera system, which utilizes artificial intelligence technology.
Buildings were carefully searched, and police gave campus officials the all-clear just before 2:00pm.
More than 900 cameras are installed across UTC’s campus, and about 200 of those are equipped with a system called Volt AI. The software can detect weapons, fights, fires, people who have fallen and more.
When a call came in reporting an active shooter, officers responded immediately. Volt AI was used to help assess the situation.
We’re hearing from students who were on campus when they received the alert from UTC, notifying them of a potential active shooter. Many of them shared the same response: keep each other safe.
“If we had an armed assailant on Thursday of last week, on 8/21, we’re confident that the system would have helped tell us exactly where that assailant is to be able to get law enforcement directly to that location,” said Brett Fuchs, UTC’s director of public safety.
Fuchs said Volt AI showed the first detection of a weapon came when officers themselves entered the building. That gave police an early indication there may not have been an armed suspect — but they still proceeded with caution.
Law enforcement quickly took action to ensure everyone was safe in the UTC Library, Universi…
The all-clear was issued more than an hour later, following a full sweep of the area.
Fuchs said the AI system is tested and reviewed regularly, both to improve its performance and to set realistic expectations of what it can detect.
“Some of it’s to help improve the technology, some of it’s to test it — to know what we can expect it to pick up,” he said.
While not every camera on campus is equipped with AI, Fuchs said he hopes to expand the technology’s reach.
“Some cameras… it may not be needed, right? Some cameras… it may be duplicative, but as many cameras as we can possibly get it on, the better,” he said.
Fuchs emphasized that safety alerts should always be taken seriously. He encouraged students, faculty, and staff to sign up for UTC’s safety programs to stay informed and prepared in the event of a real emergency.
