Jennifer Killen, the head of school at Piedmont Community Charter School, attends a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September 2025 launching the Gastonia Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. Killen is pictured third from left. Photo courtesy of Piedmont Community Charter School.
Piedmont Community Charter School (PCCS) is collaborating with the local police department to promote school safety. PCCS, a college preparatory charter school that serves students in grades K-12, is the first school in Gaston County to integrate its security system with the Gastonia Police Department’s new Real Time Crime Center (RTCC). An announcement from PCCS described the RTCC as a “state-of-the-art facility designed to strengthen public safety with real-time intelligence and technology.”
Jennifer Killen, the head of school at PCCS, spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony last month for the RTCC. The program, she said is for emergency response and prevention only, but will provide a “swift coordinated response should an incident ever occur.”
Here are her remarks below:
At Piedmont Community Charter School, we are committed to providing a safe and orderly environment where every student can learn, grow, and thrive. We believe that a secure campus is essential for fostering academic excellence and building strong character. This year marks our 25th Anniversary serving families in Gaston County.
Today, I am grateful for our partnership with the Gastonia Police Department that further solidifies the school’s commitment to safety. Our collaboration with the Real Time Crime Center represents a significant step forward in our campus safety and security measures.
By integrating our school’s existing security systems with this center, we are creating an additional layer of protection for our entire school community. This means that in the event of an emergency, the Gastonia Police Department will have immediate access to critical information, allowing for a faster, more effective response. This initiative is designed to deter potential threats and to provide a swift, coordinated response should an incident ever occur.
It is a testament to the Gastonia Police Department’s dedication to community well-being, and we are grateful for their willingness to collaborate with us.
Our commitment to privacy remains paramount. This program is for emergency response and prevention only, and all data will be handled with the highest level of security and in full compliance with all laws and regulations. The purpose is not surveillance but protection.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Taylor and Asst. Chief Brogdon for their vision and partnership. This is a momentous day for our school and for the safety of our students and staff.
Read more in this post from Piedmont Community Charter School or from WCNC. Watch a video from Queen City News about the RTCC.
