The company hired to keep United Nations communications safe may one day provide that same service for local schools.

Tri-town school committees, police departments and town officials are considering the benefits of MutualLink, a Connecticut-based online security company. The company sets up a network that can connect using radios, cameras and telephone systems at multiple locations in the event of a “critical incident.”

Bob Galvin, MutualLink regional business development director and a former Norwell police chief, explained the system at the Joint School Committee meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The company, headquartered near Newtown, Connecticut, was affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 and began providing security for schools after that tragedy.

“In the event of a critical incident time is of the essence, and what we try to do is present an improved response to the incident,” said Galvin.

“Situational awareness of the type that we can provide is extremely important to the police in how they respond, where they respond and how quickly they are able to respond.”

In the event of an intruder, someone in one of the schools could set up an incident window on the network and add the local police, fire and EMS departments to it, giving them the ability to see the video feed, control the intercom and communicate via radios.

The process only takes a few minutes.

“Here at the school that video could be shared back at the police department,” Galvin explained. “In addition, it could be shared out over iPhones, Android phones, tablets, any Windows device. So if the police were responding in their cruisers, and they had the MutualLink applications, they could be sharing that video with them as they’re responding to the school.”

MutualLink installs a hardwired panic button that, when hit, will automatically link police and schools. Galvin said there is also a “soft” panic button that is provided as a smartphone application and can be activated from any location.

Files, such as blueprints of the schools, can also be shared.

Galvin said the security is top notch.

“It’s encrypted to the level that the U.S. military uses,” he said.

The company provides a resources sharing platform for NATO across 28 different countries and radio systems.

“Before they had MutualLink, they couldn’t talk to each other,” Galvin said. “In order to be able to do that we had to provide the highest level of security available.”

The same security is available for schools and townships, he said.

All that technology does come at a price.

Galvin estimated that installing the system would cost $17,000 at each school, which includes training and equipment. An additional $1,100 would keep the program running each year at each location.

The Mattapoisett Police Department already uses MutualLink, and Police Chief Mary Lyons is encouraging town officials and school leaders to consider the network.

“I’m very difficult to be sold on anything, but I’ve seen this program work,” she said. “I’m a firm believer in being proactive.”

Lyons said the Marion and Rochester police chiefs were also on board, though those towns do not have MutualLink yet.

“The town administrators are already talking about it as well,” Lyons said. “I think you’ll have the support that you need.”

Superintendent Doug White said the program would be beneficial as the schools implement a new safety protocol that gives teachers and students more freedom to act in the event of an intruder. MutualLink would give everyone a better idea of what was happening in the building and whether those inside could safely leave.

Said White, “The towns would have to back us with the cost of this happening, but it would be an asset to us to manage our schools in a safer management.”

Further discussions are expected to take place as budget talks begin early next year.