12/22/06: Article 56, Letter on ShotSpotter

I received this email and have limited knowledge of ShotSpotter. Need to know if anyone has any expertise with the ShotSpotter.

As an individual with a long interest in Savannah as a great place to visit, and a personal history that includes attempting to purchase a business there several years ago, I commend your organization’s efforts to reduce crime in the City. Having recently relocated from Atlanta to the South Carolina low country, I visit Savannah often, maintain a strong personal interest and follow local events on the daily news broadcasts.

After reviewing your website, I note that many useful anti-crime programs are discussed. I am somewhat puzzled, however, that our company’s technology is not included in the list of potential solutions to violence in your city. As described in the attached document, ShotSpotter is the world leader in Gunshot Location Detection Systems that can pinpoint the origin point of guns fired within our areas of coverage. Our detections occur within seconds of a gunshot event, often permitting police to respond minutes before any citizen report. In fact, it is our experience that less than half the gunshots fired in the typical city are ever reported to the police or 911 center. Our systems are deployed in cities across the US, including Rochester NY, Gary IN, Oakland CA, Washington DC and your low country sister cities of Charleston and North Charleston SC. New systems are being installed in other cities that include, among others, Minneapolis MN, East Orange NJ, and Birmingham AL. Our systems have been successfully deployed for as long as ten years and can be designed to direct the movement of surveillance cameras toward gunshot events. Unlike cameras, which “see” for a limited distance, our sensors “hear” gunfire as far as a mile away. Deploying the two technologies in tandem can make the cameras more effective.

Eighteen months ago, we were requested to provide a quotation to the SCMPD to cover some of the historic district of Savannah. We did so, but sufficient funding was apparently not available at that time. Because all of our customers face similar funding challenges, we often work with potential customers to assist with federal, state, local and private funding of our systems. I urge you to visit our website to learn more about how ShotSpotter can be part of the Savannah crime solution. Given that I work from my home and reside 40 minutes from Bay Street, I would be delighted to meet with you and Chief Berkow at any convenient time.

Again, we commend your organizations efforts and look forward to discussing how we may help the SCMPD reduce crime in Savannah.