Shotspotter in Stockton

[kayakbriang]

I didn't find any discussion threads by searchs so I started this one.

What is your opinion on the implementation of this technolog? Might it be a reasonable tool for police to be alerted to shootings in neighborhoods that don't call 911 anymore? It is obvious that it won't work with out boots on the ground. Potential for misuse?

http://m.news10.net/localnews/article?a=265488&f=1286

[jmust1991]

I am curious how this will play out. Hopefully it's effective. I know it is in the military, but I wouldn't want the police coming to my house by mistake " because shotspotter said its near me ".

At a cost of $55k per square mile......

[wilit]

The problem with shotspotter is, it doesn't prevent a shooting, it only alerts and presents evidence of a shooting. If it leads to arrests and convictions, then it's probably a good thing. However, it probably won't make Stockton any safer. There's always another thug ready to fill the shoes of the guy who just got taken off the street.

[P5Ret]

It is a very expensive way to find shell casings. Oakland has it and it doesn't seem to be very effective in curbing gang shootings there. I had a conversation with the guy who runs the system in Springfield Ma, about a year or so ago. He is really big on it's usage. I got him to admit that arrests are made in less then 20% of the shot spotter activation's.

I'm all for tech to aid the police, but as it stands right now I don't think shot spotter is an effective use of the limited funding most cities have. Especially when there is no one to respond to the shot spotter activation, simply because they are backed up with other calls at the time.

[RandyD]

I would want the police coming to my house by mistake " because shotspotter said its near me ".

I was in favor of cities using this technology, but after reading your statement, I have concerns that law enforcement agencies will use it as probable cause to conduct warrantless searches or that it will be used to obtain warrants. I see a lot of potential abuse in using this technology.

[mdib870]

Stockton is already broke and were spending money on this! Wtf!

[kayakbriang]

I got him to admit that arrests are made in less then 20% of the shot spotter activation's.

Anyone know the stats for 911 calls reporting gun shots? I will be watching if this tool siphons money from the 'Marshal' plan sales tax increase vs actually increasing the number of patrol officers.

Any court cases or known instances of warrant less searches related to this tech?

Surprised that every school district in the country hasn't pushed to get this installed.

[oddjob]

One problem Stockton has is there are so many shots fired law enforcement can't respond to them all. The other problem is lets say they catch a suspect with a gun. If the suspect didn't actually hit anybody he/she is probably going to be released. The jail is already full.

Sales tax; All the city has to do is make sure the tax increases go towards what its intended to do. The city then diverts/reduces the general fund money currently allocated to the police department to other city projects (City COULD do this....not saying they will).

Its a way to increase revenue for "police" and still increase general fund projects.

[G17GUY]

The bad part about this is it does not produce any evidence. All said and done the police have a yellow dot on a map and a audio recording with no information on it. Talk about dispatching police on a fishing trip.

[nick]

It is a very expensive way to find shell casings. Oakland has it and it doesn't seem to be very effective in curbing gang shootings there. I had a conversation with the guy who runs the system in Springfield Ma, about a year or so ago. He is really big on it's usage. I got him to admit that arrests are made in less then 20% of the shot spotter activation's.

I'm all for tech to aid the police, but as it stands right now I don't think shot spotter is an effective use of the limited funding most cities have. Especially when there is no one to respond to the shot spotter activation, simply because they are backed up with other calls at the time.

This. Richer cities than Stockton have tried it, and found it to be too expensive for what little it provides.

[BrassCase]

The problem with shotspotter is, it doesn't prevent a shooting, it only alerts and presents evidence of a shooting. If it leads to arrests and convictions, then it's probably a good thing. However, it probably won't make Stockton any safer. There's always another thug ready to fill the shoes of the guy who just got taken off the street.

Remember, by design police are reactive, not overly proactive. Proactive police would kick in your door just to see what you were up to. For the police to be legally proactive within our type of system we need more of them on the streets in the high crime areas

[baimasanji]

There's always another thug ready to fill the shoes of the guy who just got taken off the street.

[Dutch3]

Can the system differentiate between gunshots and other noises such as engine backfires and fireworks?

[Tasty]

Can the system differentiate between gunshots and other noises such as engine backfires and fireworks?

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/7473317-oakland-police-use-shotspotter-to-find-illegal-fireworks/

According to Oakland Police, the ShotSpotter system was activated more than 400 times for illegal fireworks and 80 times for gunfire during 4th of July celebrations. Mark Sayre reports.

This is another idea that may sound good on paper or in theory, but in actuality is next to worthless. I don't feel any safer in Oakland with their system that I did without it.

[norcal.xd]

East palo alto has theirs on 24hrs a day and shootings still happen daily. Even with the spotter on they have a 5-10 min response time and by then the shooters are one either 101 or 880 freeways, Useless imo.