JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is touting new statistics that suggest gunshot detection technology is reducing shootings in high-crime areas.
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According to JSO, alerts triggered by ShotSpotter devices are down nearly 25% compared to this time last year.
By April of last year, such ShotSpotter devices had issued 429 alerts.
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Only 325 warnings have been issued so far this year.
“It doesn't solve violent crime. It doesn't solve shootings, but it's part of the puzzle that can be used to solve it,” said JSO Deputy Chief Michael Paul.
Paul said the decrease in ShotSpotter alerts suggests the device is having an effect.
“This is a tool we use to keep people safe. People who get shot will survive, and no one will call 911. It will also stop police from reporting gunshots in areas where people don't report gunshots. We warn you,” Paul said.
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JSO statistics also show a decrease in shootings compared to last year.
So far in 2024, there were 74 cases, compared to 81 cases in the same period in 2023, a decrease of 8.6%.
In addition, overall violent crime is down 8.7% compared to last year, according to JSO statistics.
In particular, the number of murders has decreased by nearly 30%.
Paul noted that ShotSpotter's alarming statistics suggest the technology is helping to crack down on gun violence, especially in areas of greatest concern.
“Because shootings in these areas are going down, and you know for a fact that based on our data, the majority of shootings are happening on ShotSpotter,” Paul said. said.
JSO told Action News Jax the agency has budgeted $375,000 for ShotSpotter technology this year.
Paul argued that the cost was worth it based on the results the agency had achieved so far.
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