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Police are used to seeing the aftermath of a crime, but now at least they can hear what went down. ShotSpotter makes that happen. Rochester now has 64 active sensors that can detect gunfire immediately and pinpoint almost exact location of the incident. 911 dispatchers are alerted and receive an audio clip of the actual gunshots. The sensors sometimes pick up other sounds such as fireworks. Once dispatchers determine shot were fired, they send police to the scene.
This happened for the first time Monday night when a series of 15 shots rang out. Several sensors detected the shots at Hixson Street. Before the first call came in, 911 had already sent officers to the scene, however it was too late to save 21-year-old Sharri Chandler and 26-year-old Morris Farrel.
Police had better luck with ShotSpotter later in the week. Gunfire was detected on Spencer Street on July 12th. Investigators said when they arrived, they found 41-year-old Bobby Welcher with the gun still in his hand. He has been charged with menacing in the 2nd degree.
"For one thing, I think a lot of people are going to start thinking twice before they shoot guns in the city once they know this is working," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D, 28th).
Slaughter secured nearly $400,000 in federal funds in December 2004 to pay for ShotSpotter. She said the process of getting it up and running was slowed by the government's delay in handing over the money. Then the installation took longer than planned once holes in the coverage area were discovered. ShotSpotter finally went online this week.
"Just one more step in addition to the manpower," said John Merklinger, Director of Rochester's Emergency Communication Department. "It gives us some technology to help out and hopefully it will help us deploy that manpower in a more efficient manner," he explained.
But ShotSpotter isn't perfect. It didn't pick up the shooting on Dewey Avenue near Augustine Street Thursday night. 19-year-old Caderrel Sneed suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during a robbery attempt. Lashunda Robertson lives in an apartment building near where the shooting occurred. She didn't hear the gunshots, but was sitting on her front stoop just minutes before it happened.
"It's crazy. What if I was sitting right here with my two young kids. I have two kids that are under two years old and I had just went in the house when it happened," she said.
Robertson would rather see a shot stopper. "When a bullet comes out of chamber, it has no name," said Robertson.
Shootings have declined 30 to 70% in cities with ShotSpotter. Police have also begun a gun tip line. To report an illegal gun, call 428-GUNS. Calls can be made anonymously.
http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=23763&r=l
Video with link
This happened for the first time Monday night when a series of 15 shots rang out. Several sensors detected the shots at Hixson Street. Before the first call came in, 911 had already sent officers to the scene, however it was too late to save 21-year-old Sharri Chandler and 26-year-old Morris Farrel.
Police had better luck with ShotSpotter later in the week. Gunfire was detected on Spencer Street on July 12th. Investigators said when they arrived, they found 41-year-old Bobby Welcher with the gun still in his hand. He has been charged with menacing in the 2nd degree.
"For one thing, I think a lot of people are going to start thinking twice before they shoot guns in the city once they know this is working," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D, 28th).
Slaughter secured nearly $400,000 in federal funds in December 2004 to pay for ShotSpotter. She said the process of getting it up and running was slowed by the government's delay in handing over the money. Then the installation took longer than planned once holes in the coverage area were discovered. ShotSpotter finally went online this week.
"Just one more step in addition to the manpower," said John Merklinger, Director of Rochester's Emergency Communication Department. "It gives us some technology to help out and hopefully it will help us deploy that manpower in a more efficient manner," he explained.
But ShotSpotter isn't perfect. It didn't pick up the shooting on Dewey Avenue near Augustine Street Thursday night. 19-year-old Caderrel Sneed suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during a robbery attempt. Lashunda Robertson lives in an apartment building near where the shooting occurred. She didn't hear the gunshots, but was sitting on her front stoop just minutes before it happened.
"It's crazy. What if I was sitting right here with my two young kids. I have two kids that are under two years old and I had just went in the house when it happened," she said.
Robertson would rather see a shot stopper. "When a bullet comes out of chamber, it has no name," said Robertson.
Shootings have declined 30 to 70% in cities with ShotSpotter. Police have also begun a gun tip line. To report an illegal gun, call 428-GUNS. Calls can be made anonymously.
http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=23763&r=l
Video with link
