Gunshot Detection System Covers a Third of Pittsburgh

Gunshot Detection System Covers a Third of Pittsburgh

A gunshot-detection system hailed by the Pittsburgh police is poised to cover nearly a third of the city this year.

A gunshot-detection system hailed by the Pittsburgh police is poised to cover nearly a third of the city this year.

The Pittsburgh city council endorsed an expansion of the system to reach all six police zones, stating on the North Side. Members will take a final vote on Tuesday on the $3.38 million agreement to expand the system over the year.

The system uses microphones to monitor constantly for gunfire, relaying alerts to dispatchers even when no one calls 911. Pittsburgh began a pilot with the technology in January 2015 in Zone 5, where it tracks an area of three square miles between East Hills and Garfield.

During that time, 6,000 indications made by the technology pointed to more than 2,200 gunfire incidents, according to the Department of Public Safety. Police have made 48 arrests amid responses to the system's calls and responders have located 83 shooting victims.

"Overall, we found we are able to get to victims and to crime scenes quicker," Zone 5 police Cmdr. Jason Lando said.

He called the technology invaluable in rendering aid, location crime scenes, recovering evidence and assisting in prosecutions. Police found they had been missing some East End gunfire because residents were accustomed to the noise and don't always call 911 when they hear it.

If approved by the council, the gradual-rollout should be complete by years-end and would include about 19 square miles citywide, targeting areas that together accounted for about 80.5 percent of Pittsburgh's gunfire calls and 87.5 percent of gun-related homicides from January 2015 through December 2015.  

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Only 35 Percent of Companies Include Cybersecurity Teams When Implementing AI

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3