COLUMBUS – Ahead of a violent weekend in Columbus, ShotSpotter technology, which allows police to respond to gunfire before 911 is called, went live in the Wedgewood neighborhood on the West Side, scene of several shootings and other crimes in recent months.
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In total, 12.64 square miles of Columbus is now equipped with ShotSpotter, including the Hilltop, Linden, South Side and Near East Side neighborhoods.
According to the Brookings Institution, more than 80% of gunfire incidents go unreported to 911, city officials said.
ShotSpotter alerts police to virtually all gunfire in a coverage area within 60 seconds. When gunfire is detected by acoustic sensors, a notification is sent directly to neighborhood patrol officers which pinpoints the specific location in which the gunfire originated, enabling a fast police response, which city officials say helps officers save lives and collect critical evidence.
In 2022, the Columbus Division of Police recovered shell casings in 1,054 separate ShotSpotter alerts, officials said. Officers made 45 arrests for weapons offenses, 29 arrests for other offenses, and seized 45 firearms based on those alerts.