Pittsburgh ShotSpotter Improves Police Response Times, Crime Rates Unchanged

Pittsburgh's ShotSpotter system, implemented in 2014 and covering about a third of the city, has been found to significantly improve police response times to gunfire incidents by up to 63% compared to traditional 911 calls. Since its deployment, 911 calls reporting gunfire have dropped by 50%, and alerts from ShotSpotter are about as effective as 911 calls in prompting police action. However, despite these improvements in response efficiency, the system has not resulted in a significant reduction in overall crime rates, gunshot injuries, or increased arrests, with fewer than 1% of alerts leading to arrests. The city has spent $8.1 million on the technology, raising concerns about its cost-effectiveness as the contract approaches expiration. Some Pittsburgh officials are calling for more thorough discussion on the future of ShotSpotter amid mixed assessments of its value and effectiveness. This comes even as other cities reconsider the use of the technology due to doubts about its impact on violent crime reduction.