Unique technology alerts MPD officers to shootings

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The future of the Milwaukee Police Department's ShotSpotter program had been in question recently, as there was talk of removing funding. However ShotSpotter may have prevented the suspect in a recent officer-involved shooting incident from further harming anyone else.

A study of 300 shots fired calls shows that only 14% of the time, people are making the call about the problem. Police say hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in the technology that can help fill in those gaps.

Residents in the neighborhood of 37th and Meineke say peace and quiet is difficult to come by. One neighbor described the deadly noises she's heard near her home.

"it'd be pop pop pop pop pop" said the woman, who did not want to be identified. "I can't say which neighborhood is safe, but I'm going to try to find something safer than around here."

Police say the ShotSpotter helps them identify the sounds of gunfire. Noises in high crime areas are sifted through using the special software.

"The acoustic sensors are designed to detect gunfire," said Lieutenant Chris Blaszak. "You see these very sharp, distinct spikes in sound."

If the sounds captured by the system match the unique noise and signature of gunfire, squads are alerted. A pinpoint of the area shows up on officers' computers within seconds.

Officer Michael Gasser has had the technology in his squad for a few months and says it has helped him gather evidence.

"We've been able to go to where the pinpoint is on the map and find casings there," said Gasser. "The ability to respond to shots fired calls is cut down by minutes."

The system was tested early Thursday morning, August 1st, when shots were fired on 37th St. near Meineke. ShotSpotter helped lead police to a 22-year-old who, investigators say, pointed a gun at a responding officer off of 41st St.

The suspect was shot by police and received non-life threatening injuries.

The ACLU is closely watching the technology to make sure the recorded sounds are not an invasion of privacy. The Milwaukee Police Department says the system only tracks noises that resemble the gunshot signature. If it tracked a broader scope it would be ineffective.