Philly pinpoints gunshots in real-time

  • May 15, 2023
  • William Payne

Philadelphia Police are adopting a system from Databuoy to pinpoint gunshots in real time within the city. The SHOTPOINT system detects gunshots even in high noise environments, localises them and immediately alerts the police. The city’s police department is employing it in a pilot programme to help reduce gun-violence throughout Philadelphia.

Philadelphia officials sought a solution to accurately detect a gunshot and localise where it came from. The aim is to reduce gun crime and increase successful prosecutions.

Databuoy’s SHOTPOINT system can automatically alert first responders in real-time. According to the company, it can be deployed in nearly any environment, eliminates false positives without human intervention, and provides accurate, quickly deployed reports to the police and other emergency services.

“Our system works reliably in high noise environments and around vehicular traffic without false detections,” Kathleen Griggs, Databuoy CEO said. “The system is automated and gets information to responding officers instantly and has supported police response and investigations for multiple homicides in the years we have been installed.”

“We are deployed in some of the most volatile environments in the country, like the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas,” said former CBP Commissioner, David Aguilar, one of Databuoy Corporation’s Board of Advisor Members. “We are confident it will do the same for the City of Philadelphia.”

SHOTPOINT is becoming more accessible to cities since it has been awarded a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) on a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) contracting vehicle and available on The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) through a Minority Owned 8(a) Small Business.

“We are committed to the safety of our citizens,” Robert Keehfuss, Philadelphia Police Department, Public Safety Technology Program Manager said. “Philadelphia needs a system that will instantly give us the precise location where the shot occurred. Every second counts when it comes to saving lives and catching shooters, so the faster we get the detailed information, the better chance we have of protecting our citizens.”

The pilot programme between Databuoy and the Philadelphia Police Department will be ongoing for the next several months and cover one of the city’s heaviest gun violence areas. If the system performs to the goals outlined in the pilot, there is support for a larger rollout plan.