Joe D’Amico, President of Security Services Northwest (SSNW) and Shepherd Shield Inc. plans on bringing hundreds of high-tech jobs to Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula with continued development of the Shepherd Shield personal security app.
“It’s taken four years since filing our patent and a year to develop the art prior to that,” D’Amico said. “It’s been a long road but certainly worth it. I look forward to the day that everyone has Shepherd Shield on their phone and can steer clear of both immediate and potential dangers.”
D’Amico developed the concept for a security app for any mobile electronic device which can be customized to an individual’s location and interest. Shepherd Shield’s real-time alerts are issued when a subscriber comes in close proximity of a threat area (based on four threat levels, red being highest, meaning events in progress), as determined by information obtained from a variety of sources. Users have a customized choice of categories, including high crime areas, active shooter alerts, terrorist threats, weather emergencies, and more. Data can be viewed individually, as lists, and using a map feature. There is also a “report it” function so a subscriber may anonymously contribute information, including photos.
In 2018, Shepherd Shield did a soft launch and 40,000 people downloaded the app. The outstanding level of interest helped uncover a few technical bugs that have since been addressed. In March 2021, D’Amico was issued a U.S. Patent for his invention.
Depending upon further Shepherd Shield development and investor funding, D’Amico envisions jobs for software developers, AWS support, dispatchers, software integrators for APIs, intelligence analysists, manufacturing for patent-pending cell phone case and a worldwide sales force.
To learn more about Shepherd Shield or to sign up, go to https://www.shepherdshieldapp.com/ The app is available on Google Play Store or Apple iTunes Store. There is a free 30-day trial app, with full access. After 30 days, there is a prompt to continue as a guest for free (with limited options) or upgrade to Pro, with full options. The free (trial) version gives you broad or basic updates of what is happening in your area. The pro version gives you detailed information of what is occurring along with updates. It also gives you access to different vendors for safety and security companies near you.
Security Services Northwest has been in business since 1977, founded in Port Townsend, Washington. In 2017 SSNW relocated its headquarters to Sequim, Washington, where the company has enjoyed a business-friendly environment. SSNW now provides security services in Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska and has more than 350 employees.
“When seconds count, count on Shepherd Shield.”
LOCATION BASED SECURITY ALERT SYSTEM
US Patent number: 10950110
Abstract: Systems and methods for managing threats at target locations of networked subscriber devices. The system may include a server connected to a network such that the server manages threats at the target locations and at threat locations. Networked subscriber devices alert respective users when the respective target locations coincide with a given threat location. The server notifies the users of respective solutions to threats and respective solution providers.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 7, 2017