Jul 27th, 2022
Within the first few hours of ShotSpotter going live, the system detected a single gunshot, and within a couple minutes, the shooter was located and arrested.
As part of Operation Echo Stop, ShotSpotter is one of many tools the Mobile Police Department has in place to combat the problem of illegal firearm use. After a soft rollout last month, the ShotSpotter system went fully online July 26. Officers received the first detected incident of gunfire at 8:23 p.m. that evening. After arriving at the location within a couple of minutes, officers were able to locate the shooter, a male juvenile. He was taken into custody and transported to Strickland Youth Center.
The Mobile Police Department remains committed to reducing illegal firearm use and violent crime to protect the quality of life for those living in our communities. The ShotSpotter technology is just one component of a greater gunshot detection and crime prevention strategy designed to help law enforcement officers identify, locate and ultimately deter gun violence. Real-time alerts notify officers of precisely when and where gunfire occurs resulting in faster and more accurate responses.
As the department moves forward with the use of ShotSpotter and other aspects of Operation Echo Stop, residents can expect a decrease in the number of shootings. Gunshot detection will be used in concert with patrols, intelligence and other technologies, but the most important component of preventing gun violence is community involvement.
A “See Something, Say Something Tip Line” has been created to help police provide assistance to those communities who are negatively impacted by gun violence. Anyone can report gun violence day or night by calling or texting information to (251) 404-4066.
MOBILE POLICE DEPARTMENT