Victorville’s recently implemented ShotSpotter gunshot detection system — the first in San Bernardino County — is showing positive results for law enforcement, officials said.
The gunshot detecting network of microphones was first installed in the city three months ago, according to city spokeswoman Sue Jones.
“Since deploying ShotSpotter this past June, we have had positive results,” she said. “For example, ShotSpotter notifications have led to four at-scene arrests, five investigations and the recovery of five firearms.”
What is ShotSpotter?
ShotSpotter systems, created and operated by SoundThinking Inc., are designed to reliably detect gunfire and relay the information to police within seconds, city officials said in July.
In addition to detecting gunshots, “It determines whether multiple weapons are involved, the types of weapons used, and pinpoints the location of the gunfire informing law enforcement’s tactical response and investigation,” according to a city statement.
The data is analyzed by acoustic experts before being forwarded to officers, according to a statement from the company. Those experts, who staff a 24-hour monitoring center, “can append the alert with other critical intelligence such as whether a fully automatic weapon was fired or whether there are multiple shooters,” the statement added.
By the numbers
In the first three weeks of operation, ShotSpotter helped deputies solve three gun-related crimes that had not been reported via 911, city officials said at the time.
In the three months that followed, the system “is helping our Victorville Police Department respond more quickly and investigate and solve crimes more effectively,” Jones said.
According to city data, since implementation on June 25, ShotSpotter had resulted in 26 notifications of gunshots detected, only eight of which were also reported to 911.
“The notifications resulted in four at-scene arrests, five investigations and five firearms recovered,” Jones added.
Gunfire often underreported
In the High Desert, as well as across the U.S., gunfire is often underreported, officials said.
“Our data collected so far in Victorville shows that only 30 percent of the gunshot incidents detected by ShotSpotter were also reported to 911,” Jones said.
In addition to the ShotSpotter system, Victorville also recently installed a network of 123 automated license plate readers.
Next, the city is preparing to launch a public safety drone program, along with a coordinated “real-time crime center,” Jones said.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Officials report positive results following implementation of ShotSpotter in Victorville
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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