Seven Questions University Leaders Must Ask Their Police Departments After Brown University Tragedy

What the Brown University Investigation Revealed

The December 2024 shooting at Brown University killed two students and wounded nine others during finals in the Barus & Holley engineering building. As investigators entered their sixth day without an arrest, press conferences revealed troubling realities about campus security infrastructure.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha explained that the shooting occurred in an older section of the building with "fewer, if any" cameras. Brown University President Christina Paxson noted approximately 1,200 cameras on campus, yet the older engineering building portion lacked adequate coverage. Investigators relied on doorbell cameras from nearby residences rather than campus security footage.

Question 1: Where Are Our Camera Coverage Gaps?

University administrators should request comprehensive maps of all security camera locations. This assessment must examine actual visual coverage and identify blind spots, not just count cameras.

The Brown incident demonstrated that building age correlates with inadequate security infrastructure. The 1965 Barus & Holley building had cameras only in a newer addition completed five years ago. Many campuses contain similar legacy structures where security upgrades have not kept pace.

Ask your police department to categorize buildings by coverage level and address high-traffic areas, building interiors, perimeter zones, and integration between interior and exterior systems.

Use this self-assessment to understand your own university’s camera coverage.

Question 2: Who Monitors Our Camera Feeds and When?

Having cameras installed provides limited value without real-time monitoring. Campus security teams typically cannot maintain dedicated monitoring of all feeds around the clock. Many institutions rely on cameras primarily for post-incident investigation rather than threat detection.

Question 3: Can Our System Detect Threats Before Incidents Escalate?

The distinction between passive recording and active detection represents the most critical gap in campus security. Traditional cameras document events. They do not prevent them.

AI-powered video intelligence analyzes camera feeds continuously using computer vision algorithms trained to recognize specific threats. Detection happens within seconds, enabling security teams to respond while incidents develop rather than after they conclude.

Modern AI security systems detect multiple threat types simultaneously:

• Weapon detection: Identifies firearms even when partially concealed
• Fighting recognition: Analyzes movement patterns to identify altercations as they begin
• Medical emergency detection: Recognizes when individuals fall or show signs of distress
• Behavioral analysis: Detects loitering, unusual crowd formations, and suspicious activity

The University of Illinois Chicago deployed AI-powered security across 142 camera streams on their 250-acre campus. The system successfully identified a concealed weapon in challenging detection conditions where human observers would likely have missed the threat.

Learn more about AI-powered video intelligence.

Question 4: How Would We Track Someone Moving Across Campus?

Investigators searching for the Brown shooter faced significant challenges piecing together clips from multiple disconnected sources. Modern security operations require continuous tracking as individuals move through campus environments.

Advanced AI systems understand physical layouts and track movement based on clothing descriptions and behavioral patterns. This capability proves essential during active incidents when security teams coordinate response across multiple buildings.

Question 5: What Happens When an Alert Goes Out?

Brown's emergency notification system reached approximately 20,000 people. However, community members noted frustration during the extended lockdown, and nearby businesses reported never receiving alerts.

University leaders should review detection to alert timelines, alert specificity, security team coordination, and law enforcement integration protocols. The optimal approach combines AI-powered detection that initiates alerts within seconds with trained personnel making escalation decisions.

Learn more about preventing school shootings.

Question 6: Are We Prepared for Threats in Older Buildings?

Older academic buildings often lack infrastructure to support modern security technology. Renovation budgets prioritize classroom modernization over security upgrades.

The good news is that modern AI security technology integrates with existing camera infrastructure. Institutions do not need to replace all hardware to gain advanced detection capabilities. AI-powered software layers onto current systems, transforming passive recording into active monitoring.

Question 7: What Would a Comprehensive Security Assessment Reveal?

Proactive security assessments help institutions identify and address gaps before incidents occur.

Moving From Reactive Recording to Proactive Protection

AI-powered video intelligence represents the most significant advancement in campus security technology. Systems like VOLT AI transform existing camera infrastructure into comprehensive monitoring networks that detect potential threats in real time.

UC Law San Francisco deployed AI-powered security in a challenging urban environment and described it as "transformative" for their campus security program. The technology provides continuous monitoring that catches incidents in action rather than relying on post-incident investigation.

University leaders carry responsibility for creating environments where students focus on learning rather than worrying about safety. That responsibility requires honest assessment of current security capabilities and willingness to invest in modern protective technology.

Partner With VOLT AI for Comprehensive Campus Protection

VOLT AI provides real-time video intelligence that transforms existing security cameras into intelligent monitoring systems. The technology detects weapons, medical emergencies, fights, and unauthorized access within seconds.

Human operators at a Virtual Security Operations Center verify each alert before escalating to campus security teams, eliminating false positives while ensuring genuine threats receive immediate attention. Implementation integrates with current infrastructure, eliminating costly hardware replacement.

When campus security becomes your priority, choose a partner who understands what is at stake. Every second matters when protecting students, faculty, and staff.