Hometown Hero Award Presented To Seth Cirker

The Hometown Hero Award was presented to Seth Cirker on Friday morning at . The founder and president of Port Washington-based SituCon Systems, Cirker invented a safety technology system, which at the push of a button, immediately alerts police when emergency assistance is needed.

This patented technology is already used in Port Washington schools, at no cost to the district as part of a pilot program. In addition to notifying police authorities of an emergency, the program is also designed to protect privacy. Once school personnel issues an alert, the "eyelids" of the system's camera lens opens, so police at the dispatch center can see the scope of the emergency, along with the location, in real time. Otherwise, the eyelids of the camera remain closed, protecting the privacy of students and staff alike.

"I wanted to create a security system that at the simple push of a button, will send out the information authorities need in seconds," Cirker said. "I feel that we will be much safer with technology like this wherever it is needed." 

That's key to Cirker. Concerned about the increase in school violence, Cirker, the father of three young children, left his job as the head of technology at a New York engineering firm several years ago, to launch SituCon. 

Cirker was presented the award by North Hempstead Town Clerk Leslie Gross, Port Washington Assistant Police Chief Jim Salerno and Deputy Police Chief Ron DeMeo. The award is given to those in North Hempstead who have enhanced the well-being of the community. 

"We're very proud of Seth, his inventiveness and compassion for helping others," Salerno said. "He's found a way to combine his gift in technology with a desire to make our world a safer place." 

"We will be viewed state, and perhaps, nationwide for our leadership in safety and protection, and for all of us that remains a most important priority," Port Washington School Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Gordon stated about the program, in a letter to the community.

Displayed at the awards ceremony, Cirker's invention included a SituCam, the privacy protecting camera (with opening and closing eyelids), alert buttons and a stimulated police dispatch display.  

Aside from Port Washington, the program is also deployed in the Nassau branch of the AHRC in Brookville, as well as in Brookline and Marshfield, Massachusetts.