Baird Helgeson

Houston city leaders deployed the gunshot surveillance system ShotSpotter to strengthen police responses in neighborhoods where gunfire too often rings out. But three years into its deployment, crime statistics show the technology hasn’t made a dent in gun violence in the select areas it covers – with a side effect of distracting officers from other calls for help.

“No matter what other call you’re on, if (a ShotSpotter alert) drops, you go,” said Douglas Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union. “You’re not going to that burglary report or that theft report. You’re now going to ShotSpotter.” Many ShotSpotter alerts would not be assigned such urgency if reported through other channels, according to Griffith.

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