CMPD's Shot Spotter Goes Live in Uptown

Have you spotted them yet? Cedar Posts is on the look out for the tell tale square sensors placed around the northern edge of Charlotte's I-277 loop.

The install may look something like the ones below in Boston and San Francisco.

The email below details the new "crime stopping" tool being used by CMPD which will go live Monday Morning at 0900:

We will begin using a new gunshot detection and reporting technology in Communications as of 0900, Monday, Aug 13^th. It is the ShotSpotter (SST) application. It uses a network of acoustic sensors that records and identifies:

Where shots are occurring

When the shots occurred

What type shots were fired

What direction the shots were traveling

SST identifies information through the use of multiple sensors placed on buildings within the 277 loop. Information is collected by at least 3 to 4 sensors and uses GPS triangulation to send that information into SST headquarters. An SST reviewer at their headquarters will review the alerts and relay the information to CMPD Communications, if it is determined to be an actual gunshot, via a web-based application. Now through DNC, we will also receive a 911 call from a company reviewer, in addition to the web-based alert.

SST has an 80% guaranteed accuracy rate of identifying actual shots and their location within 10 to 15 feet. Alerts will also include a web-based map of the location allowing call-takers to identify where the shots are coming from in a specific area of the property. All addresses are estimated addresses using latitude and longitude and equating that position to an address on the map. Alerts are sent to Communications from SST within in 60 seconds. The system will identify single or multiple gun shots. Eight (8) seconds of delay between gunshots will initiate a new alert.

In Communications, every call-taking and dispatch position will have SST running , as of 0900, Monday. The call-taker receiving the call from SST will enter a WP – SHOTS FIRED call, using the new sub-event type SHOTSPOT. It will be a priority-2 call for service. There will be limited information on the web, other than the map showing the calculated address, based on an estimated location calculated by the ShotSpotter technology. Call-takers will enter that statement in all SHOTSPOT calls. Dispatchers will announce the same advisory over the radio.

The initial deployment affects only Central Division dispatchers.

While more precise than most of our 911 calls, officers should keep in mind that the ShotSpotter only provides an estimated location. As with all shots-fired calls, officers should use extreme caution when approaching the address of the location. However, once a scene is secured, dispatchers may be able to help pin-point the origin of the shots in order for officers to secure evidence such as shell casings or projectiles.

Thanks and be safe

Mike

Captain Mike Campagna

Communications Division

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

More about Shot Spotter from the company's web site is here, and Cedar Posts prior post on Shot Spotter is here.