Democrat-run cities throughout the country are canceling contracts with gunfire detection systems that help police quickly respond to crimes. Their reason? The life-saving technology is “racist,” they claim.
The most well-known system is ShotSpotter, which uses a network of outdoor acoustic sensors in high-crime areas to triangulate where gunfire is coming from and alert law enforcement. According to SoundThinking, the company that makes ShotSpotter, only 20 percent of shootings are ever called in to 911 – meaning that the system fills an enormous gap in the ability of law enforcement to treat gunshot victims and catch criminals.
ShotSpotter was first deployed in 1997 and is now in use by more than 180 cities. Dozens of local officials and law enforcement leaders have testified about its effectiveness.
Police chiefs in Detroit and Syracuse have shared how these tools help them reduce crime and aid victims. “Oftentimes, nobody called 911 and I’ve got somebody bleeding out,” Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettinson shared recently after questioning by city council members. In one study from Cincinnati, serious gun violence declined by 46 percent in the areas of the city where ShotSpotter was installed. In St. Louis, reported assaults in police beats with ShotSpotter installed declined by 30 percent.
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