ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system, which uses a combination of sensors to determine the location of gunfire. Bridgeport has become the latest Connecticut city to roll out the technology.
When shots are fired within the covered city locations police will be notified within 45 seconds. Lt. Paul Grech said this is will be a game changer for city cops.
“They’re going to cut response time down tremendously,” Grech said. “They’re going to get on the scene. They’re going to be able to identify and assist victims, they’re going to be able to collect shell casings. Now, all shell casings in the city of Bridgeport are collected and turned into NIBIN, which is a national database to identify - it’s like a fingerprint for weapons. So we can connect shootings together, not only in the city of Bridgeport, in the state of Connecticut.”
ShotSpotter will also integrate the city’s surveillance system. So when shots are detected the technology will send coordinates to the city’s police cameras, which will turn in the direction of the shots.
Mayor Joe Ganim said it will cost about $400,000 for the first year. They’re using federal grant money combined with other funds to pay for the technology. ShotSpotter will be implemented in certain, undisclosed parts of the city to start. Then, based on effectiveness, coverage will be expanded.
Ganim said they’re joining some 90 other cities around the country that already have this technology in place, including New Haven and Hartford.
