St. Louis uses automated system to "listen" for gunshots

Kevin Murphy has an interesting system called "ShotSpotter" that's just debuted in St. Louis. The city has a network of listening devices throughout the city, which lets police know whenever a shot is fired. No more waiting for a 911 call. And best yet, the system is trained to know the difference between a shot and a firecracker, and can tell whether it was fired from a moving vehicle.

KCPD doesn't have it YET, but is trying to secure grants to guy ShotSpotter, Murphy reports.

Comments

[kay]

So this assumes every shot fired is a criminal act, and it provides no information on who or where the shooter is. Sounds like a waste of money to me. Not all new technology is worth having.

[D-man]

Brother-in-law effect at it's best. sounds like the guy that invented this thing is living in some congressman's basement because he's his brother in law. so he invents this junk and his brother sells it to them to get this guy enough money to get out of his basement.

[Searching]

Seems to me in ST Louis you could hear the guns shots if you just open a window.

[robert]

this is a wonderful technology that was profiled in the magazine Wired about a year ago