ShotSpotter contributes to violence reduction strategy in Rochester, N.Y.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Gazette
Vol. 72, No. 2
By Chris Delaney
Senior Crime Research Specialist
Rochester Police Department
Excerpt:
Like many northeast American mid-size industrial cities, Rochester, N.Y. , has been characterized by a declining population, pocket of deep poverty, poor educational performance, high unemployment and very high levels of violent crime. This has led to the dubious distinction as the "murder capital of New York State.” Public safety is, therefore, a key element in Mayor Robert Duffy s revitalization strategy for Rochester, specifically reducing firearm crime.
Under Chief David Moore's direction, the Rochester Police Department (RPD) employs a “smart policing” approach to violent crime that emphasizes analysis, intelligence and technology. As a key part of their approach, RPD installed six square miles of ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (GLS) coverage in 2006. The GLS uses acoustic sensors that detect and locate gunshots within 25 metres, and the system then immediately relays detailed information (including a geography reference) to dispatchers, allowing for a rapid response time for officers.
RPD has committed to leveraging the benefits of this technology in gun crime hot pots, and since installation, ShotSpotter detection has played a critical role in approximately one case a month. The system is also helping on a preventative level, as the data can be used to predict outbursts and retaliation, proving to be a key component of RPD's violence reduction strategy.
ShotSpotter contact |
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Erin Lopez |
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