Evolv Metal Detectors at the front entrance of the school.
Photo by: Lincoln Puls
February 5, 2025
Recently this school year Prince William County began to implement the relatively new Evolv Weapon Detection Systems at Varsity football and basketball games. “The devices will be in place at all high school varsity basketball and football games. September 6th night's football game at Forest Park High School will mark the first use of the detectors at a sporting event.” According to Fox 5. In the fall of 2023, the first implementation of the Evolv weapon detection systems began to be distributed and implemented in schools across Prince William County.
“I think everyone, when they see the machine, they feel safer, right?” Said Confessor Martinez, the head of security at Colgan. “Knowing that everyone that walks to the machine can be detected if they have a weapon or not. Students appreciate the parents appreciate it as well. Having that equipment, that safety equipment in school.”
The systems are not used at any other level than JV or any other sports as of now but according to a PWCS release on the systems they may use the technology randomly at other events throughout the school year.
“PWCS may use this technology randomly at other events during the school year. Safety screening technology provides an additional layer of security to quickly identify potential threats.”
Questions on the systems being implemented in school events still remain including whether the systems will be soon be implemented at other sporting events outside of football and basketball and whether the systems will be implemented in differing levels of sport like J.V as opposed to only Varsity sport events.