(TNS) — Pittsburgh’s use of ShotSpotter — a nationwide audio-detection system used to detect possible gunfire — hasn’t significantly reduced crime in the past few years, but has decreased police response time compared to 911 reports, according to a recent report from the City Controller’s Office.
The system was first deployed in Pittsburgh in 2014 in parts of police Zone 5, which includes neighborhoods such as Bloomfield, Morningside, Lincoln-Lemington and Homewood. Since then, it has expanded to all police zones, but does not cover the entire city.
Since 2014, the city has spent about $8.1 million on the system. The Controller’s Office, aware of the “significant investment,” initiated the audit to assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the program…