Have you ever wondered how police officers detect and respond to crime? Technological innovation remains essential in aiding law enforcement’s ability to do so effectively.
Within the arsenal of the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), two systems have enhanced the way officers recognize and respond to crime in the local region.
Here’s an overview of what these systems are, their functionalities, and how long they’ve been in use in Wilmington.
ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (ShotSpotter Flex)
What is it?
ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (GLS) is an “acoustic surveillance-based system” used for gunfire detection, according to a previous proposal submitted by the company to WPD.
The system “detects at least 80% of all detectable outdoor gunfire,” according to the proposal. Data is captured and stored into a database, which can be used for “immediate dispatch, for follow-up investigations, by crime analysts and in CompStat reviews to identify when and where resources…should be deployed.”