Inside the buzz of ISC West 2025, I sat down with Dave Selinger, founder and CEO of Deep Sentinel, a company that’s redefining what it means to stop crime - not just record it.
In an age where most security systems are reactive, Selinger's mission stands apart: prevent crimes before they happen. His approach blends AI-driven detection, human judgment, and hardware built for immediate deterrence. And as we’d learn during our conversation, it’s already working - over 4,000 crimes stopped every month.
Why Deep Sentinel Was Created
When asked what sparked the idea behind Deep Sentinel, Selinger didn’t hesitate.
“We created Deep Sentinel to stop crime before it happens - not after. And the reality is, most of today’s systems don’t actually stop anything.”
He pointed to a sobering fact: over 95% of police responses to traditional alarm systems are false alarms. Not only is this inefficient - it’s dangerous. Delayed response, lack of verification, and “camera footage for later” just aren’t enough.
The Problem with Traditional Alarms
“Police treat these systems as a nuisance,” Selinger told me. “They don’t come when you need them because they’ve been triggered so many times by wind, cats, or branches.”
For Selinger, this was personal. Years before launching Deep Sentinel, he had experienced the failure of a top-tier security system firsthand. A break-in happened while the alarm was active. No one responded. And it left a lasting impression.
“I realized we needed to fundamentally rethink the system - not just the camera, not just the alarm. The whole thing.”
Building a Solution with AI and Accountability
The solution, as Selinger envisioned it, required two non-negotiables: artificial intelligence that acts instantly, and real humans who can make judgment calls in real time.
This led to the creation of a fully integrated system: smart cameras trained with proprietary AI, paired with live U.S.-based guards who monitor threats as they occur. Not post-event, but in the moment.
“We have AI that runs directly on the camera, identifies a threat, and brings in a live guard within seconds. That guard can speak to the suspect, trigger deterrents, or call law enforcement - all before damage occurs.”
AI-Powered Proactive Security
At the heart of Deep Sentinel’s platform is what Selinger calls “full-stack control”. From the lens of the camera to the voice of a human guard, every part of the system is connected, fast, and accountable.
Full-Stack Control: Cameras to Guard Intervention
“We’re not using someone else’s cameras. We’re not outsourcing AI. We built the whole thing from scratch - hardware, software, even the guard network.”
This vertical integration allows Deep Sentinel to eliminate latency, control the user experience, and guarantee outcomes. It’s the difference between a camera system that might notify you - and one that actively intervenes.
Each camera runs AI locally, constantly scanning for human movement and behavioral patterns. When a suspicious activity is detected, the system escalates to a guard in under two seconds.
Faster, Cheaper, and More Precise than Ever
Compared to the traditional alarm model, this approach is not just more effective - it’s cheaper and more scalable, especially for businesses.
“We're replacing old school alarm panels and slow video monitoring with something smarter and more efficient. Our customers see fewer false alerts, faster intervention, and better protection.”
Live Guard Monitoring and Transparent SLAs
Most security platforms stop at detection. Deep Sentinel goes further - with real guards trained to assess and respond to each situation within 30 seconds.
30-Second Rule: Deterrence Before Damage
“We guarantee that a live guard will speak to the suspect within 30 seconds of a verified threat.”
This isn't just a technical achievement - it’s a Service Level Agreement (SLA) written into Deep Sentinel’s client contracts. The goal is deterrence, not delay.
Selinger described how, in most cases, suspects flee at the sound of a guard’s voice - long before they commit the crime. And if they don’t? Guards can trigger sirens, strobes, and initiate police response with full video evidence.
Clarity and Transparency for Integrators
For integrators and installers, this model offers something rare: proof of performance.
“You see exactly what the guard saw. You get the audio, the timeline, and the outcome. There's no guessing. You know it worked.”
This transparency builds trust between service providers and clients - and offers a way to differentiate in a saturated market of passive systems.
Hardware and Hub-Based AI
Dave Selinger emphasized that Deep Sentinel’s system is built from the ground up - with every layer of technology developed in-house.
“So many other companies, they license cameras from someone, they license software from someone. We built our own camera, our own AI stack, our own hub, our own application… and most importantly, we built our own monitoring center.”
This level of control allows Deep Sentinel to achieve extremely low latency. From the moment a person appears on the property to a guard being engaged, everything happens in seconds - without relying on third parties.
“The Deep Sentinel hub… it's not just a hard drive. It’s doing real-time inference, identifying humans, making decisions, and escalating to a live guard in less than two seconds.”
Custom AI per Property and Adaptive Threat Detection
What makes the system truly unique, according to Selinger, is that each AI model adapts to the property it’s deployed on.
“It’s trained per property. If someone always walks from the sidewalk to the door at 2 PM and they wear a blue jacket, it’s going to learn that’s okay. If someone walks at a different angle or time or lingers - that’s what we look for.”
This approach minimizes false positives and enables accurate responses tailored to the specific behavior patterns at each location.
1 / 6
“Our AI is not just trained on a dataset of 100,000 scenarios. It keeps training on your scenario. It adapts.”
That adaptability is what allows Deep Sentinel to distinguish between a familiar delivery person and a potentially threatening loiterer, and to act accordingly.
Solving Real-World Problems with Custom AI
Selinger shared one of the more unexpected use cases that shaped how their custom AI is applied in the field.
“One of our customers was like, ‘Can you help me with my dumpster?’ I was like, ‘Your what?’ And he said, ‘People keep going through our dumpster, and it's causing legal issues, and it's costing me money.’ I thought it was a joke at first.”
They ended up building a dedicated solution for that exact problem - something that didn’t exist in the market but quickly became one of the more popular commercial deployments.
1 / 2
“So we built an AI model just to protect dumpsters. And now we protect hundreds, if not thousands, of dumpsters.”
It’s a powerful example of how Deep Sentinel doesn’t just offer generic protection. Instead, it creates targeted AI models that address very specific, and often overlooked, pain points for property owners.
FlashBang Deterrent Suite
At ISC West, Deep Sentinel also unveiled something no other residential or small business security provider offers: the FlashBang deterrent suite.
“This is for high-risk environments. We’re talking sirens, strobe lights, smoke emitters… even pepper spray deployment.”
Dave Selinger explained that while their AI and live guards handle the vast majority of incidents, certain high-threat situations call for instant, high-impact deterrence.
Sirens, Strobes, Smoke, and Pepper Spray
The suite includes devices that can visibly and audibly disrupt criminal activity. Loud sirens activate, bright strobe lights flash, and in extreme cases, devices can release non-lethal pepper spray or smoke into a contained area.
“It’s not just about recording. It’s about stopping them in their tracks - before they can do harm.”
While such tools sound like military or industrial-grade responses, Selinger was quick to note that they’re deployed very selectively - only when escalation is justified and aligned with customer authorization.
Multi-Layered Approvals for Safety
To ensure safety and prevent misuse, Deep Sentinel built in multi-step authentication and approval for any deterrent deployment.
“There’s a multi-tier escalation that includes AI, human review, and customer confirmation. Nothing is automatic when it comes to deploying something like pepper spray.”
This approach keeps responses accurate, ethical, and legally defensible - something many systems simply aren't equipped to handle.
For a closer look at how other smart security platforms manage advanced alerting and escalation, our guide 6 Best IP Camera Monitoring Software 2025: Which Is the Best Choice? offers a helpful comparison, especially for integrators considering hybrid environments.
Live Demo: Detection and Intervention
To illustrate the platform in action, Selinger walked us through a live demo - starting with AI detection, followed by guard analysis, and finally intervention.
“What we’re seeing here is a person walk into the zone. The AI confirms it's human. A guard is already watching. He engages: ‘This is Deep Sentinel Security. You're on camera. Leave immediately.’ The suspect backs off. That’s deterrence.”
Two-Way Audio and Guard Verification
This isn’t a pre-recorded voice - it’s a real-time conversation. The guards are trained to assess tone, language, and context.
“They can hear the person. They can talk to them. If they’re drunk, if they’re aggressive, if they’re just lost - we handle it differently.”
The voice deterrent combined with strobe lights and camera tracking provides a clear message: you’re being watched and this is not an easy target.
Responsible Deployment in Sensitive Situations
Selinger made it clear that Deep Sentinel isn’t in the business of overreaction. Precision matters more than speed, especially when families, employees, or bystanders are nearby.
“What’s more important than being fast is being right. That’s what our system is built for.”
And in places where wearable surveillance is needed - like security patrols or remote staff - our feature Best Body-Worn Cameras 2025: Top Models and Features Unveiled shows how Deep Sentinel’s philosophy can be extended through human-mounted tools, keeping everything connected and documented.
Bring Your Own Camera (BYOC)
In response to growing demand from installers and customers with existing infrastructure, Deep Sentinel introduced a “Bring Your Own Camera” (BYOC) option. This opens the platform to third-party camera systems that meet integration standards.
“We’re working on an installer-certified version of BYOC that will allow you to take any existing camera system - RTSP, ONVIF, whatever - and plug it right into Deep Sentinel.”
This shift is about more than flexibility. It’s about expanding the reach of proactive security without requiring a full rip-and-replace install.
Installer-Centric Certification Coming Soon
“We’ve had a ton of demand from integrators. They want to bring this to their customers, but without tearing out legacy systems. BYOC will let them do that - quickly and affordably.”
It’s a win-win: installers keep the cameras they know, clients get Deep Sentinel’s live deterrence and AI, and the platform continues to grow.
This modular flexibility aligns with industry-wide interest in hybrid solutions. In locations where connectivity is an issue, many installers are combining Deep Sentinel with hardware from our Best Cellular Security Cameras 2025 list to ensure reliability across all environments.
Partner Program for Integrators
Selinger didn’t just design Deep Sentinel for end users. From the start, the platform has included a revenue-focused pathway for security professionals.
“We’ve built this to support integrators. You get a recurring monthly revenue stream from each site. That’s how we grow together.”
Build Recurring Revenue with Crime Prevention
The economics are simple: once a Deep Sentinel system is installed, the monitoring fees generate predictable income. Integrators benefit from long-term relationships, and customers benefit from visible results - recorded interventions, saved property, and fewer police calls.
“It’s not just a camera sale. It’s a service. It’s protection that works. And it renews every month.”
With demand for smarter, subscription-based systems rising, Deep Sentinel offers partners a model that’s scalable, meaningful, and financially viable.
Final Thoughts from the Founder
As our conversation came to a close, Dave Selinger left me with two points - both striking in their simplicity and scope.
Security That Works Before the Crime Happens
“We prevent over 4,000 crimes every single month. Those aren’t just numbers. That’s homes untouched. Businesses unharmed. Lives uninterrupted.”
It’s a staggering figure. But it’s backed by video evidence, police reports, and customer testimonials. Deep Sentinel doesn’t just claim deterrence. It documents it.
“This Is What the Future Looks Like”
“In five years, no one’s going to want a system that just records. They’ll expect real-time protection. This is what the future looks like.”
From AI cameras and FlashBang response systems to BYOC and integrator revenue streams, Deep Sentinel is building not just a product - but an ecosystem. One where security is active, human-informed, and always ready to intervene.
For those who install, resell, or rely on surveillance to feel safe - this system offers not just visibility, but real-world results.
Stay Informed with Pipl Systems
At Pipl Systems, we’re committed to keeping you informed on the cutting edge of the security industry. Our goal is to bring you insights that matter - from practical product breakdowns to deep conversations with those shaping the future of surveillance.
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss:
- In-depth product reviews and real-world comparisons
- Educational articles, tutorials, and how-to guides
- Exclusive interviews with innovators and experts on the Pipl Systems Podcast
Stay ahead of the curve by joining our growing community of security professionals. Let’s shape the future of safety - together.
Anti-Intrusion Security Fog System Case Study: Stopping Luxury Car Theft with Phantom Fog
Alarms detect. Cameras capture. But neither stops a thief already inside. My name is Vladimir Dragovic, and I'm the CEO of Phantom Fog Technologies. This security fog system case study documents a recent installation we completed with our partner integrator Knight & Day Security Inc. at a private garage housing a high-value car collection in […]
Read More Anti-Intrusion Security Fog System Case Study: Stopping Luxury Car Theft with Phantom FogContinue
aosu Security Systems 2026: Complete Buyer’s Guide for Cameras and Doorbells
In 2026, aosu home security systems are positioning themselves as a strong alternative to established players like eufy and Reolink. While many brands compete on resolution and AI features, aosu sets itself apart with its focus on local storage hubs (aosu Homebase, aosu HomeCortex) and subscription-free security options. For North American homeowners and SMBs, this […]
Read More aosu Security Systems 2026: Complete Buyer’s Guide for Cameras and DoorbellsContinue
How to Choose an LTE Cellular Security Camera: Ultimate Buying Guide 2026
An LTE cellular security camera exists for places your router will never reach. Remote farms, construction sites, storage yards, trailheads, and seasonal cottages often sit beyond reliable broadband. With LTE backhaul, the camera sends motion clips, alerts, and health pings over the same cellular networks your phone uses. That means real coverage without trenching Ethernet […]
Read More How to Choose an LTE Cellular Security Camera: Ultimate Buying Guide 2026Continue
AI Intercoms: Next-Gen Innovation 2026
AI Intercoms are rapidly emerging as the next big frontier in physical security. For years, cameras dominated the AI conversation: from simple motion detection to facial recognition, license plate analytics, dwell time monitoring, and behavioral analysis that drastically reduced false alarms. Today, that same intelligence is being applied to voice-driven systems, transforming how organizations manage […]
Read More AI Intercoms: Next-Gen Innovation 2026Continue
How 30+ IP Video Door Stations Protect a Modern Office Tower | Aiphone Case Study
Discover how an IP video intercom solution helps a Class A Toronto office tower protect tenants from the lobby to four levels of parking. Overview This 30-story, Class A office tower in Toronto’s Financial District stands as a prime example of modern commercial real estate. With a fully renovated lobby, modern amenities, and multiple sustainability […]
Read More How 30+ IP Video Door Stations Protect a Modern Office Tower | Aiphone Case StudyContinue
Aiphone Emergency Stations Providing Security for Parking Garages in 24-Story Building
Learn how a Class A office tower improved underground parking safety with IP-based parking garage emergency communication that aligns with its smart, sustainable design. Overview This 24-story, Class A office tower in downtown Toronto serves as a national headquarters for a major Canadian financial institution. The LEED Gold-certified building combines smart building infrastructure, flexible office […]
Read More Aiphone Emergency Stations Providing Security for Parking Garages in 24-Story BuildingContinue