Kansas City police say their new ShotSpotter gunshot detection system is paying off. Since they began monitoring 3.5 square miles of the urban core several years ago, Kansas City had a 15 percent reduction in gunfire incidents.
The statistics come from the SST, the company that makes and monitors ShotSpotter. The system is in its third year in Kansas City.
“Kansas City experienced a 15 percent reduction in gunfire incidents in 2014 compared to 2013. You might recall that there was a 26 percent reduction from the first half of 2013 to 2014. The latest data show the decrease continues, and that means our residents are safer,” according to Central Patrol’s James Schriever.
“SST Inc.’s studies have shown that as much as 80 percent of illegal gunfire goes unreported. Thanks to ShotSpotter, our officers have been able to respond to and make arrests in shootings that police might otherwise never have known about. On average, our officers respond to at least four ShotSpotter calls every day,” Schriever said in an email.
He adds that he thinks the main reason gunfire is down is community engagement.
“Sadly, hearing frequent gunfire had become common in these areas. Residents didn’t report it because they were scared or thought police wouldn’t do anything about it. Now they see that we are doing something about it, and we are here to make their block safe again. When we show up at these shots fired calls now, people come out of their homes to ask us what is going on. They are learning that we will be there and they can talk to us.”
I don’t think too many shooters are aware of this. Would it help to have block signs (with a website info address) that point out that there’s monitoring?