Minister of National Security Marvin Dames shakes hands with Alfred Lewers Jr of ShotSpotter on Thursday. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By MORGAN ADDERLEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
THE first phase of the Shotspotter technology programme was rolled out yesterday during a press conference held at Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters.
National Security Minister Marvin Dames, senior police officers, and representatives from ShotSpotter were present yesterday to explain and demonstrate how the gun-detection technology works.
The technology, implemented in undisclosed areas across New Providence, is strategically placed “outside, in open areas, above the roadways, above ambient noise,” according to Shotspotter senior project manager Kent McIntire.
“So we’re not looking to capture audio other than for gunfire. So when that dynamic event occurs, that bang, that boom or that pop it sends the information to our location servers and then to our monitoring centre.”
The information relayed also includes what time the shots happened and the number of rounds fired.
Chief Superintendent Zhivargo Dames explained that once a signal is received from Shotspotter, the information will be sent to the police control room as well as to a device in patrol cars.
“If the officer who is in the patrol car would wish to respond to that gunshot detection, he can acknowledge it and respond directly to that incident or where that shot is coming from,” CSP Dames added.
Large maps were on display during the press conference and members of the press were provided with devices. As part of the demonstration, shots were fired in the Step Street area. The maps showed the location while the devices lit up with notifications.
Shotspotter director of customer success Alfred Lewers said the information is transmitted to the company’s operations centre in California. Service operations personnel vet the information and then send it out as either a gunfire event or possible gunfire event.
Although he admitted there is a “degree of uncertainty” with the technology, he underscored the importance of officers responding to all events.
The technology can also pick up multiple or simultaneous incidents of gunfire in different locations. While it has been able to pick up suppressed gunfire in the past, it is generally for non-suppressed gunfire.
In terms of crime reduction rates, the representatives noted on average customers experience a 37 percent reduction in gunfire in the coverage area over the first two years. However, they noted this is also dependent on law enforcement agencies’ approaches, adding some cities have experienced reduction as high as 60 per cent.
They also added customers have reported a four minute, 52 second better response time as a result of Shotspotter.
Regarding concerns about privacy, the representatives noted the technology is only located outside and does not function like “any type of streaming audio”.
However, this means that it can only pick up outside gunfire, not inside shooting events.
Regarding the implementation of the second phase of the technology, CSP Dames said the area for it has already been mapped out. While he did not give location specifics, he said this technology will be installed in Nassau, Freeport, and Abaco.
He added Shotspotter and expansion of CCTV will be working together to provide officers with a “phenomenal” amount of information.
To this, the minister said: “Next fiscal period, as you know, we’re at the end of this fiscal period and so police will be making provisions (during) the next budget exercise to encompass the next phase.”
Comments
TalRussell 5 years ago
Yes, yes and yes finally a solution for comrade citizens, residents and tourists in need policeman's, emergency ambulance or fire engine response...... just grab your Emergency Summoning Firecracker and run likes hell over nearest Shotspotter, and hopefully when no live human operator is answering any the some 38 listed Emergency telephones, the new Shotspotter technology will transmit sounds ya firecracker, yes, no.....just can't make this up?
xtreme2x 5 years ago
ShotSpotter is a gunfire detection system used by the Birmingham Police Department to provide rapid location data for gunfire in the city.
The system, which covers an area of over 6 square miles, uses a network of about 100 sensors connected to processing software which distinguish gunfire from other noises and triangulate the location to within about 40 feet so that officers can respond quickly. The inconspicuously-placed 360° microphones are spaced at about 12 to 20 sensors per square mile. Each sensor has a thermometer so that the speed of sound can be calculated precisely. The system also records data on each incident which can be used in statistical analysis and as evidence in prosecutions.
The equipment and software is supplied by ShotSpotter, Inc. of Mountain View, California and installed and supported by the South Carolina Research Authority. *The cost for installation was $987,000 and the city pays about $100,000 per year to maintain the system.***
The technology was one of the recommendations made by former Police Chief Annetta Nunn in 2006. It was touted by Mayor Bernard Kincaid in the 2007 State of the City address. Funding for the system was helped by a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Justice, spearheaded by Senator Richard Shelby.
The system was installed in late 2007 and was undergoing testing in December. The first arrest credited to the system was made in the East Precinct on January 30, 2008. James Rogers was arrested in the 200 block of 80th Street South for firing a rifle inside the city limits. He had outstanding warrants for criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.
On August 10, 2008 officers responded to multiple gunshots detected by the system in East Birmingham. There they found a man shot to death. According to homicide detective Roy Bristow it was the first time ShotSpotter detected gunfire involved in a homicide. As of February 2009 the system was credited with leading police to four arrests and two homicide victims. Deputy Chief Ray Tubbs told the Birmingham News that he hopes to expand the system and find better ways to make use of it in the department's crime-fighting efforts.
In 2010 city officials requested additional federal grants to expand the system. Over the next three years the number of detectors was increased from 90 to 120 and the covered area increased from 6 to 7 square miles.
Chucky 5 years ago
System is used in Toronto Canada. Ontario provincial police state that it is credited with getting police to a scene quicker, while saving the time for a report to be made and conveyed, though they get to a scene with less information that normally received via emergency calls. After 8 years of used in 4 trial areas they have decided to take the system out of service. deeming it too expensive with too little benefit.
JessicaC 5 years ago
Please correct this comment - Shotspotter is not supported by South Carolina Research Authority.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years ago
We can't even keep the traffic lights or general post office running, yet somehow we can install and maintain this supposedly sophisticated ShotSpotter technology. This is all about muck-a-muck cronies of the FNM party getting yet another fat juicy heavily padded contract, and nothing more. And we don't even get told the upfront and ongoing costs for the honest and hardworking taxpayers. What a joke! Yep...get ready for another increase in VAT and national insurance contribution rates. LMAO
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