Weapons Detection Systems
the metal detector slows the line. The AI sensor doesn't.
Weapons detection design and install across SoCal — K-12, healthcare, sports venues, courthouses, houses of worship, corporate. Evolv Express AI screening. CEIA and Garrett walk-throughs. ZeroEyes AI gunshot detection. Integrated with the existing camera and access control stack.
Weapons detection systems — from line-stopping metal detector to AI sensor
Weapons detection systems now span three distinct categories: traditional walk-through metal detectors (CEIA, Garrett), AI-based screening that processes a stream of people without stopping the line (Evolv Express, Athena), and AI gunshot detection embedded in the existing camera infrastructure (ZeroEyes). CISA active shooter preparedness guidance is the federal framework. DOJ STOP School Violence Program funds K-12 deployments.
The engagement: site survey for entry geometry and throughput requirements, technology selection (AI-based, walk-through, or both), camera-side AI integration for gunshot detection on existing cameras, integration with access control and managed monitoring, staff training, response procedures, and (for K-12) federal grant documentation. Detection is the easy part. Response procedure is the hard part.
Pairs with security cameras for ZeroEyes AI integration, access control for lockdown integration, mass notification for alert escalation, and venue security. Start with a free assessment.
Three operational drivers behind weapons detection deployment
Weapons detection moved from sports venues into K-12, healthcare, and houses of worship as the threat landscape changed.
Healthcare ED violence is rising
Hospital emergency department assaults and stabbings have roughly doubled since 2020. Many SoCal health systems are deploying weapons detection at ED entry as both a deterrent and a controllable screening point. Joint Commission workplace violence prevention standards reinforce the trend.
K-12 federal funding is available
DOJ STOP School Violence Program plus state-level funds (California School Facilities Program safety set-asides) have created a sustained funding stream for K-12 weapons detection. Districts are deploying at high-school entries and event-day deployments at middle schools.
Venues need throughput
Stadiums, arenas, and large event venues can't use traditional metal detectors at scale — 60,000 people through a single bottleneck doesn't work. AI-based weapons detection (Evolv Express) processes thousands of people per hour without the stop-and-empty-pockets routine. The category exists because the math doesn't work otherwise.
Why choose WCC for weapons detection
Weapons detection deployment is camera integration first, screening hardware second, and response procedure third. WCC owns all three layers.
CSLB C-7 · C-10 · C-28
Active California contractor license. Permits pulled for entry modifications, electrical, and low-voltage. Schools and government welcome.
ZeroEyes Integration
ZeroEyes AI gunshot detection layered on the existing Verkada, Avigilon Alta, Axis, or Rhombus camera stack. No camera replacement required.
STOP + School Facilities
Grant documentation experience for DOJ STOP School Violence Program and California School Facilities Program safety set-asides. Federal procurement processes navigated.
Procedure + Training
Detection is solved. Response is the gap most deployments miss. WCC scopes response procedure design, MNS integration, and staff training as part of the engagement.
The six weapons detection capability areas
Each capability scopes to facility type, throughput requirements, and existing camera infrastructure.
Evolv Express + Athena
AI-based walk-through screening that processes 3,000-4,000 people per hour without bag empty. Evolv Express dominant in sports venues, houses of worship, and large K-12. Athena Security AI screening alternative. Subscription-priced.
CEIA + Garrett
Traditional walk-through metal detectors for courthouses, government facilities, and budget-constrained K-12. CEIA SMD-600, Garrett PD 6500i. Lower throughput, higher specificity, lower cost.
ZeroEyes Camera AI
AI gunshot detection embedded in the camera stream. Verkada, Avigilon Alta, Axis, Rhombus camera integration. Brandished firearm detection. Direct law-enforcement notification path.
Concealed Weapons Detection
Concealed weapons detection for high-risk environments. Metrasens Cellsense, Liberty Defense. Healthcare ED and patient handoff applications. Sensitivity tuned to clinical environment.
ACS + Camera + MNS
Detection events integrated with access control for lockdown, cameras for verification, and mass notification for response escalation. End-to-end response, not just detection.
Response Procedure + Training
Response procedure design, staff role definition, MNS integration scripting, table-top exercise, and ongoing training. The detection system without the response procedure is half a deployment.
Weapons detection systems — common questions
Three different technologies under one umbrella. AI-based screening (Evolv Express, Athena) uses passive sensors and machine learning to detect concealed firearm or knife signatures as people walk through — no stop, no pocket empty. Traditional walk-throughs (CEIA, Garrett) use active electromagnetic detection — higher specificity, lower throughput. AI gunshot detection (ZeroEyes) runs computer vision on existing camera feeds to detect a brandished firearm in real time and alert security plus law enforcement.
Different category. Traditional metal detectors stop one person at a time, require pocket empty, and process roughly 400-600 people per hour per lane. Evolv Express processes 3,000-4,000 per hour, allows bags and pockets to stay full, and uses sensor fusion plus AI to distinguish firearm signatures from laptops, water bottles, and umbrellas. Evolv carries subscription pricing; traditional walk-throughs are capex purchase. Different deployment models for different facility types.
ZeroEyes runs computer vision on existing camera feeds (Verkada, Avigilon Alta, Axis, Rhombus, others) to detect a brandished firearm in real time. Detection event reaches a 24/7 human SOC for verification within seconds, then triggers law-enforcement notification, mass notification activation, and access control lockdown. WCC integrates ZeroEyes with the existing camera infrastructure — no camera replacement.
Yes, and federal funding is available. DOJ STOP School Violence Program plus California School Facilities Program safety set-asides fund K-12 weapons detection. AI-based screening at high-school entries is the most common deployment. Event-day deployments at middle schools, sports events, and graduations use the same equipment. ZeroEyes layered on existing school cameras is the lower-cost option for districts already on Verkada or Avigilon. WCC supports the grant documentation.
AI-based screening (Evolv Express): subscription, $25K-50K per lane per year all-in. Traditional walk-throughs: $4K-12K per unit capex plus install. ZeroEyes camera AI: per-camera subscription, $200-600 per camera per year depending on count. Concealed weapons detection (Metrasens): $10K-30K per unit. Full deployment with response procedure and training: scales with facility count. WCC quotes after the assessment.
Yes. DOJ STOP School Violence Program awards multi-year grants for K-12 school safety including weapons detection, training, and threat assessment programs. California School Facilities Program has safety-specific set-asides. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds houses of worship and nonprofits. WCC supports the technical scoping and documentation portions of grant applications; the application itself stays with the grant writer or district.
Weapons detection across Southern California
WCC deploys weapons detection across all six SoCal counties — K-12 schools, hospital emergency departments, sports venues, houses of worship, courthouses, corporate. Headquartered in Chino.
Weapons detection is camera, access control, and response procedure combined.
WCC scopes the entry geometry, selects the screening technology, layers ZeroEyes AI gunshot detection on the existing camera infrastructure, integrates with access control lockdown and mass notification, and designs the response procedure plus training. CSLB C-7 / C-10 / C-28. STOP grant aware.