Listening for gunfire
Good Magazine produced this short video piece about the ShotSpotter system, which Troy has been using for about a year now. ShotSpotter installs microphones around a city to listen for gunfire -- and then the system calculates where the shots were fired so police can respond. The Good video looked at a California city's use of the system:
Troy's system apparently covers about a square mile of the city -- though officials haven't disclosed the coverage area. There's some question as to whether the system detected the shot fired in the Second Street murder in October.
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Comments
This is fascinating. It may actually work in areas of the region where gun violence is prevalant. Not only does it locate where shots were fired, but that location will allow officers to respond faster, perhaps administer first aid. Survivors may be able to indentify who shot them.
The downside to the system is clearly the cost and staffing needed to monitor the system. Perhaps is can be integrated so a dispatcher also acts as the system monitor?
... said daleyplanit on Nov 13, 2009 at 2:30 PM | link