The City of Atlanta Police Department (APD) has pledged to track and reduce gun violence with a new technology called ShotSpotters.
In partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation, ShotSpotters alerts police of real-time shootings within 60 seconds, sending complete information about its location and the exact number of shots. The technology will be tested in the span of three months in a five-mile corridor on Atlanta’s Westside.
The technology has been tested successfully in other large urban police departments, as it brought a substantial increase in law enforcement response to gunfire incidents. According to data across the country, only 10 to 20 percent of gun-related incidents are reported to 911 centers.
Chief Rodney Bryant said: “The Atlanta Police Department is committed to exploring technologies that can contribute to more efficient policing and effective enforcement. Technology coupled with old-fashion police work will be beneficial in our efforts to stop gun violence in our city.”
At the end of the pilot, the APD will determine whether it will continue employing similar technology in the long term.
The city has utilized ShotSpotter in the past. Back in November 2018, the police had installed 100 sensors across the city without disclosing their locations. Several citizens reported seeing some of these sensors near the downtown, while some others were spotted in less crowded areas.
"The APD will continue to use all available resources to track down those who make our city unsafe. Your tips can help. We ask that you call 911 if you see a crime being committed, see something suspicious, or have information related to a crime. You can also call Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta to provide tips to crimes anonymously at 404-577-TIPS (8477)," said APD in a statement