April 2009, 1:13am - A gunshot disrupts an evening in an east coast city.

Within seconds, the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (GLS) classifies the incident as a single gunshot. Shortly thereafter, incident location and audio data are sent to the police command center via the ShotSpotter PSC software. Dispatcher reviews the incident data and dispatches officers to a popular downtown bar.

Police arriving at the scene spotted 10 to 12 people gathered outside the bar, including an individual who was drinking a beer. When police asked those in the group to remove their hands from their pockets, the beer-drinking patron ran to the rear door of the bar. As the suspect fled, police noticed a handgun tucked into his waistband.

Police caught up with the suspect and a violent struggle for the weapon ensued. Other officers arriving on scene were able to help subdue and arrest the suspect. Police confiscated a .357-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with five live rounds and located a spent shell.

Thanks to solid police work and the ShotSpotter GLS, another threat was removed from our streets.

About the Success of the Month

Each month we feature an incident where a customer’s ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System played an integral role in removing a threat from our streets. The ShotSpotter GLS provides law enforcement with near real-time alerts, aggregated intelligence data, and forensic data that regularly lead to a successful arrests, weapons confiscations and prosecutions. Please note that some incident details have been altered to preserve both customer and public privacy.