HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0006) IR 21-10714 - Gunshot Detection TechnologyINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10714
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 2021
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SUBJECT: GUNSHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY
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Purpose and Summary
The purpose of this Informal Report is to explain the nature and use of gunshot detection technology by the
Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD).
Gunshot Detection Technology, Its Description and Use
Gunshot detection (GSD) technology entails a collection of devices set up in an area to passively monitor
for gunshot sounds.' When gunshot sounds are detected on multiple devices, the devices have the ability to
triangulate the exact or very near location to either a monitoring center or a real time crime center. This
technology has been deployed in several cities across the nation.
Why We Have Not Used Gunshot Detection Technology in the Past
The FWPD explored deploying GSD technology several years ago, but it was determined that the high cost
associated with deployment combined with questionable results from other cities made pursuing this
technology impractical at that time. For example, San Antonio PD eliminated their "pricey" gunshot
detection system, which only resulted in four arrests,2 and Chicago PD spent "tens of millions of dollars"
only to find that the technology was correct only about 9 percent of the time.3 Other proven technologies,
such as FWPD Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras and automatic license plate reader cameras (ALPR), provided
much more cost-effective investments and are proven to be significantly more effective at providing public
safety benefits compared to gunshot detection technology.
Flock Gunshot Detection Technology and Its Possible Usage in Fort Worth
On November I11h, 2021, eight Flock Safety gunshot detection devices (called Ravens) were deployed in
east Fort Worth as a demonstration project to ascertain the effectiveness of these units. The units are being
provided free of charge. The 5400 block of East Berry Street and the surrounding area was selected for this
test. This location was selected because of the number of confirmed shootings and shots fired calls in 2021.
Additionally, there was a need to ensure that the test area had several two story or above apartment
buildings to test the effectiveness of the detectors in areas with larger buildings. There have been
conflicting reports about the effectiveness of the gunshot detectors when the shots are originating from
apartment communities where taller buildings skew the audio before it reaches the detection devices.
'This technology analyzes gunshot sounds only. It does not have the capability to detect or record voices or
conversations.
2Vianna Davila, "San Antonio Police Cut Pricey Gunshot Detection System," San Antonio Express -News (Aug 17,
2017); available at https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/San-Antonio-police-cut-pricey-"nshot-detection-
11824797.nhn.
'Don Babwin and Garance Burke, "Chicago Watchdog harshly Criticizes ShotSpotter System," AP News (Aug 24,
2021): available at https:Hgpnews.com/article/technology-business-chicago-ld62906bOc4b4dc67886da89596blfl2. The exact
price was 33 million for three years.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10714
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 2021
JkATEip r Page 2 of 2
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SUBJECT: GUNSHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY
We hope that these devices will be effective, accurate, and will provide a new type of layered technology to
use in conjunction with our PTZ and ALPR cameras; however, the results of the test will not be known for
several months. The FWPD Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) will keep statistics documenting any
significant results related to the effectiveness of the Ravens. A decision about final recommendations on
whether the technology should be purchased will be made in 2022 based on the data and effectiveness.
If you have any questions please contact Assistant Chief Joseph Sparrow at 817-392-4231 or
Joseph. Sparrowkfortworthtexas.gov or Sergeant Dalton Webb at 817-392-1766 or
Dalton. Webbkfortworthtexas. gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS