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Gun shot tracking technology now in parts of Omaha

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DanClrk51:
New Technology Will Help Pinpoint Shots Fired
Gun violence is a constant concern in the City of Omaha and continues to be a priority for Omaha police. But there's a new crime fighting tool that's being tested to help make tracking and responding to gun crimes much easier.

Wednesday morning WOWT’s Fact Finders received a call from a viewer. She said police knocked on her door and asked her to stay inside while they conducted a test. A few moments later she heard gun shots.

Gunfire is regularly heard in some Omaha neighborhoods.

“I've heard the gunshot sounds coming from very close to the neighborhood around here,” said Ryon Delozer.

She lives off Fontenelle Boulevard and says crime is a problem that can’t be fixed overnight. But when word spread that police were testing gunshot tracking technology in her area, she was relieved.

Wednesday, police announced they tested a ShotSpotter Gunfire Alert System.

“They did do a live fire test to calibrate the system. Because the system does detect fired gun shots, an actual firearm had to be used to test the system,” said Omaha Police Officer Michael Pecha

The ShotSpotter will not only tell you when shots are fired but where. Sensors are placed at several locations and when a shot goes off the sensors work together to help police pinpoint the location.

“Up to this point a lot of times when we get a call of shots fired, officers have to rely on that person's account of the gunfire,” said Pecha.

Police won't say where the sensors are installed but say they are not going up throughout the city. Neighbors like the idea and police say it will help combat gun violence.

“It allow us to proactively patrol those areas and maybe be in the area before it happens,” said Pecha.

Grant money from the United States Department of Justice paid for the project. At this point it’s too expensive to put throughout the city.http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/132669668.html?storySection=story

Gunfire To Be Tracked With New Tool
Technology Will Help Omaha Police Fight Gun Violence
OMAHA, Neb. -- A new gunfire detection and alert system installed in Omaha will let police know exactly where a round was fired.

The Omaha Police Department said the technology, called ShotSpotter, will be a key component of its intelligence-led, community policing strategy.

"Eliminating illegal gun use and violence in our communities is crucial to the quality of life for our residents," said Omaha Police Chief Alex Hayes.

Whenever a gun goes off, the sensors and software in ShotSpotter will be able to immediately triangulate the location of each round fired. The system is expected to be activated this week.

On Wednesday, Omaha police and representatives with ShotSpotter tested the system with a real firearm to calibrate the locator device. Authorities said residents were notified of the tests and safe practices were followed.

According to the company's website, the information allows for not only a faster police response, but also forensic analysis and evidence in court. Because of this, Omaha police believe ShotSpotter will lead to increased prosecutions for gun-related crimes throughout the city.

The city purchased the technology using funds from a United States Department of Justice grant.

Police said they will not give the specific locations of where the ShotSpotter technology has been installed.
http://www.ketv.com/news/29594150/detail.html

New Technology to Help Omaha Police Combat Gun Violence
OMAHA, NE--Omaha police began testing Wednesday morning on a new piece of equipment they hope will combat gun violence around the city.

The ShotSpotter Gunfire Alert system is designed to help police immediately locate a specific area where a gun has been shot. Police say the system would allow a quicker response time in an emergency and increase first responder safety.

The police department has been installing the system throughout Omaha over the past several months.

Police also expect the system to allow them to collect additional and more precise forensic information while investigating cases than they have been able to in the past. It's hoped this will lead to more prosecutions in gun-related crimes.

Wednesday morning, officers fired their guns in neighborhoods where the system is being installed. The system requires live gunfire in order to calibrate. Residents were notified of the test firings prior to their start. The Omaha Police Department refuses to say where the ShotSpotter has been installed.

The system was purchased with a grant from the Department of Justice.
http://www.kptm.com/story/15885006/new-technology-to-help-police-combat-gun-violence?redirected=true

Device will track gunshots
The Omaha Police Department will soon be able to tell where gunshots are fired as they go off.

The department has installed a “ShotSpotter Gunfire Alert and Analysis'' system, or sensors that detect gunfire and report the location to police.

ShotSpotter Flex, the company that installs the systems, says ShotSpotter can provide more accurate information than 911, help police solve homicides more quickly and allows for quicker response.

The Omaha system, funded by a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, will become operational next month, said Police Chief Alex Hayes.
Police wouldn't say where the sensors will be, citing safety concerns. But Lt. Darci Tierney, a police spokeswoman, said they won't be placed throughout the city.
Police say the system will provide more evidence of gun-related crimes, possibly leading to increased arrests and prosecutions.

The company was founded in 1995 in Redwood City, Calif. Two years later, once-prevalent New Year's Eve shots-fired incidents in Redwood City were virtually erased, the Los Angeles Times reported in 2000.

The ShotSpotter website says it has systems in more than 80 cities, including Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Baton Rouge, La. Its clients also include the Justice Department.

It says that only loud explosions will trigger the sensors, which are placed up high.

A report from the company said the No. 1 complaint is false positives, which come from loud noises such as Dumpster trucks, helicopters, fireworks, construction, vehicles, trash haulers and church bells.The Omaha system was tested under controlled circumstances Wednesday morning with live gunfire.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20111026/NEWS97/710269782#device-will-track-gunshots

RLMoeller:
There was some discussion on this topic last evening on KFAB.  It was funny when one caller said he thought it was a waste of money and the response was that it was "paid for with grant money".

DanClrk51:
Well it will remain to be seen if this technology actually helps prevent or solve crimes. Also with all the false positives will police just begin to ignore the sensor alarms? This techology will only be worth our money (it is our federal tax dollars) if it actually helps solve most shootings. If it does that it will also help prevent shootings by putting a chill effect on them. But just like video cameras this technology cannot physically prevent a shooting. I don't think we will see much more results than what surveillance cameras have given us. The shootings will most likely continue. The best solution will always only be in the power of the first responder. And that would be the victims or would be victims if they choose the correct tools that empower them to successfully resist an attack. Guns obviously aren't a 100% protection but they are the best available. If we had personal energy deflector shields like in Star Trek or Star Wars I'd be wearing one.  ;)

NE Bull:
I'd like to be in a cruiser in North O on most any given night, once this goes live.  From what I been told by  an officer working at MCC at the old Fort Omaha, I'd be willing to bet that thing goes off almost constantly.
Like Dan said, if it helps with the shootings and takes the heat off the law abiding citizen, then I'm all for it. But....We'll see if Omaha and OPD followed the instructions, Lord knows the have a problem with that. ;)

DaveB:
Probably a 36 hour response time too. Car backfiring are going to be called shootings in the paper also.

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