ShotSpotter: Does it Address the Rising Gunshot Crimes in the US?

Intelligent solutions like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data are expanding rapidly. These innovations promote sustainable development practices among nations. Recently, a technology company in the US introduced a technology solution known as ShotSpotter. This gunshot detection system garnered controversies in terms of accuracy and alleged discrimination in the police force. 

ShotSpotter chief executive Ralph Clark granted the media access to their operations center to clarify the allegations. They are still working on verifying the accuracy of the system. The systems are reliable because 80-95 percent of gunfire goes unreported, Ralph Clark says. Residents do not report incidents for several reasons. Some people are unsure of the sound, while others think someone had already reported it to 911. Sadly, people sometimes lack trust in the police. 

How Does ShotSpotter Work? 

ShotSpotter founders came up with a system that could address the issues. The company installed microphones in structures around a community. Once a loud bang is detected, a computer system assesses the sound and classifies it as either a gunshot or not. After that, a human analyst reviews the result of the computerized analysis. Every time the algorithm detects a potential gun shot, it makes a “ping” sound. Analysts first listen to the recording themselves and then evaluate the waveform on the computer screen. 

Ms. Ginger Ammon, one of the company’s analysts, said that they are using sensors to determine the pattern of gunshots. Once they are sure that it is a gunshot, analysts click a button that dispatches police officers to the crime scene. The company claims that the response time is less than 60 seconds. The scenario is similar to a computer game – based on the usual comments from the public.

Here are some examples of ShotSpotter’s successes:

1. In April 2017, Kori Ali Muhammad, a black supremacist, started a murderous riot in Fresno, California. Targeting as many white men as possible, he roamed around the suburbs. The police received reports via 911, but they were unclear and delayed. ShotSpotter was able to trace Muhammad’s routes and provided it to the police. With the help of ShotSpotter, Muhammad was caught after murdering three victims in three minutes. Fresno authorities believed without ShotSpotter; he would have killed more. 

2. The company was successful at convincing the law enforcement department to adopt the technology. Its microphones are installed in over 100 cities across the US. Following the death of George Floyd, people became more interested in ShotSpotter. 

3. Due to the high cost of placing microphones in an entire city, the company installed microphones in inner-city areas. These are the areas with higher black populations. 

Accuracy Issues 

The group claims that the accuracy level of ShotSpotter is 97 percent. That would mean that the police forces can accurately respond by relying on the ShotSpotter alert system. However, that is according to the owner of this technology solution. The first challenge with the company’s accuracy claim is that it is often hard to tell whether a shot has been fired. Chicago’s Inspector General investigation proved that physical evidence of actual gunshot is found in only 9 percent of ShotSpotter alerts. That means that in 91% of police responses to ShotSpotter, it is difficult to identify if it is a gunshot. As we all know, gunfire sounds pretty similar to a car backfiring or a firecracker. 

So how come that ShotSpotter is almost 100% accurate? The error in detecting the sound that misled incident reports became one of the crucial issues of the company. Critics say that the company has been counting on mere assumptions. Brendan Max, a defense lawyer from Chicago, says that ShotSpotter’s accuracy claims are “marketing nonsense.” Conor Healy, an analyst for video-surveillance research agency IPVM, also doubts the 97% accuracy. It would be fair if ShotSpotter conducted in-depth testing of data to support their claims. They should address the sound detection concerns in the ShotSpotter technology.  

Increasing Firearm-Related Crimes 

Fresno recorded some of California’s worst firearm-related incidents. BBC News reporter James Clayton joined the police on a night-time patrolling around Fresno together with police officer Nate Palomino. Then, a ShotSpotter alert comes through. But, when they reached the scene, no gun casings were found, as well as the absence of other physical evidence. Officer Palomino said that the audio recording sounds like a gunshot. “It may be possible, but it is difficult to prove,” he added. 

Mr. Alyxander Godwin wants to get rid of the ShotSpotter alert system in Chicago. The typical scenario described earlier could lead to discrimination among police officers. If the data generated from the ShotSpotter system is incorrect, it sends officers into uncertain situations. At present, there is no data to back up the company’s methodology. Meanwhile, Max, the lawyer from Chicago, said that the ShotSpotter report should not be used as evidence in court until the company addressed the accuracy concerns. He added that the company should revisit its systems for thorough review and analysis. 

Max suggested that the company should ponder on the capabilities of their human analysts. It connects to how often the algorithm agrees or disagrees with the human analyst. James Clayton of BBC News observed that the analysts might disagree with the data detected by the computer. ShotSpotter analyst Ms. Ginger Ammon admitted the system is just filtering out what we, humans, can see. “I honestly don’t even look at the classification, for I am busy analyzing the sensor patterns,” she added. 

It was an honest admission from the ShotSpotter team. There are instances that technology is only about seeing and knowing – in this case, the computer detects most sounds as gunshots. The ShotSpotter company should look into the more significant role of analysts.

The Future of ShotSpotter Technology 

ShotSpotter had attracted criticism because of the doubtful accuracy of the system. There are cities across the United States where activities are pushing for the cancellation of ShotSpotter contracts. However, the company wants to focus on the cases where they have alerted the police force to gunshot incidents. They want to highlight how the alert system helped in improving response time and saving lives. Moreover, the company is doing well in other places. In Fresno, police chief Paco Balderrama is keen on increasing its coverage, amounting to 1 million US dollars a year.  

The debate about the effectiveness of ShotSpotter continues. People worry about the implications of the technology for community peace and security in America. But the confidence of the people will increase once the tech’s accuracy is reviewed and verified.