DPD Pulls The Trigger To Test ShotSpotter System
DENVER (CBS4) - Between 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Denver police will be pulling the trigger in Montebello, testing the ShotSpotter system in a part of town they say statistically experiences more gunfire than other city neighborhoods.
"We are getting to locations where people just aren't calling in shots fired in their neighborhood," said Lt. Aaron Sanchez. "When they do call in, they're generally about a block and a half off of where the actual crime scene is."
With ShotSpotter, DPD says alerts bring them within 25 meters of a crime scene, allowing them to respond in less than a minute.
"It's helping us get to victims, and suspects on occasion," Lt. Sanchez said. "But importantly, as well, is the evidence, and the casings that are left on scene."
DPD says residents tend to assume their neighbors are calling with reports of gunfire, and won't call in themselves.
While DPD says ShotSpotter is extremely effective, they still encourage calls from the community.
Andrea Flores is a reporter for CBS4. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AndreaFloresTV.