Springfield, MA Police Department Partners with New North Citizens’ Council to Expand SST’s ShotSpotter Flex℠ Gunfire Alert & Analysis Service

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New North Citizens’ Council Helps Expand ShotSpotter Coverage Area and Supports Springfield Police Department in Leveraging Gunfire Data and Strategic Policing Initiatives to Reduce Gun Violence in its Communities

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The New North Citizens’ Council (NNCC), Springfield, MA Police Department (SPD), the City of Springfield and SST Inc., the world leader in wide-area acoustic sensor deployment, and gunshot detection and location technology, announced today that SPD has expanded its ShotSpotter Flex℠ coverage area to support its proactive policing strategies and deployments, in its ongoing commitment to improve the safety, security and quality of life for its residents by ridding the city of gun crime and gun violence. The funding for the expansion was provided by NNCC and its members, including both small and large businesses who contributed more than $100,000 toward the expansion into the North Springfield area. NNCC’s partners in helping raise the funds also included Baystate Health, Focus Springfield, Baystate Place, Cumberland Village, Edgewater Apartments, Pynchon Terrace, Mercy Hospital, Springfield Housing Authority, McDonald’s of Main Street, Flores LLC, Brightwood Development, New England Farm Workers, and North End Funeral Home & Cremations.

The gunfire data and intelligence provided by ShotSpotter Flex has been critical in supporting SPD’s policing and enforcement efforts across all areas of its operations, and in support of its community-oriented policing practices. Not only does it enable SPD to respond faster and more safely to gunfire incidents, but ShotSpotter also allows the police to proactively develop effective problem-oriented, data-driven policing strategies and tactical deployments. SPD also uses the detailed gunfire incident information as forensic evidence for analysis and investigations. Since first deployed in Springfield in 2007, ShotSpotter data has been instrumental in helping SPD take illegal guns off the streets, increase arrests for gun crimes, and increase prosecutions and deterrence for gun-related crime.

“We remain committed to protecting the safety of our communities, and that means working with our community partners and residents to actively address gun violence issues and crime,” said Springfield Police Commissioner William Fitchet. “NNCC’s commitment to the community and their support of

SPD’s efforts reinforce our city’s intolerance for illegal gun use and gun crime. Our ability to improve our work with better information and data underscores our shared vision to protect the well-being of lives in Springfield.”

“We’re thrilled that NNCC can help Commissioner Fitchet and his team use the expanded ShotSpotter service to help in their efforts to protect the citizens of Springfield from gun violence,” said Jose Claudio, Director of Media Relations for NNCC. “This was a collaborative initiative among key Springfield and NNCC entities and individuals to improve and maintain safe and secure neighborhoods in our city. We’re proud to have helped in this effort. It’s our mission to support quality of life in our community.”

“The Springfield Police Department has undertaken a comprehensive approach to resolving crime issues, and has collaborated with partners like NNCC, working together to reduce gun violence and combat its negative impact in our community,” said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. “I’m pleased with the teamwork and support in the city.”

“We’re committed to our partnership with the Springfield Police Department and the City of Springfield in creating a safer city,” said Ralph A. Clark, President and CEO of SST. “It takes collaboration and comprehensive efforts to truly address gun violence in communities, and law enforcement needs not only the accurate and actionable gunfire data that ShotSpotter provides, but also the involvement and support of community organizations and residents.”

ShotSpotter Flex supports the development of effective problem-oriented, data-driven policing strategies and tactical operations using the real-time gunfire data. Among the key benefits are:

  • Instant, Accurate Situational Awareness – Precise gunfire incident information enables informed decisions for faster emergency response while also improving situational intelligence and increasing first responder safety.
  • Enhanced Forensics Analysis – Detailed forensic data and intelligence improves the investigative process leading to more thorough investigations and enhanced prosecutions for gun-related crime.
  • Incident Expert Qualification – A highly trained team of gunfire acoustic experts at the SST Incident Review Center qualify all incidents immediately and pass valuable, actionable gunfire incident data to 9-1-1 dispatch centers and mobile police units enabling accurate and reliable information.
  • Long-Term Crime Deterrence – Awareness of all gunfire incidents and cumulative data enables proactive crime analysis and strategic deterrence.

The most populous city in western New England, Springfield has a population of 153,155 residents.

About New North Citizens’ Council

NNCC provides advocacy, public and human services to Hampden County residents with an emphasis on Hispanic/Latino community for the purpose of enhancing the preservation and support of the family resulting in the improvement of quality of life. With more than thirty years of experience in the

Springfield community, NNCC offers organizational capacity in the areas of community development, advocacy and human service provision from a neighborhood-based perspective. Its board and membership reflects the demographics of the North End of Springfield, which includes Hispanic, African American and Caucasian (non-Hispanic persons).

About SST, Inc.

SST, Inc. is the world leader in gunshot detection, and its ShotSpotter solutions are the leading gunfire alert and analysis solutions. Its public safety technology solutions are focused on improving public and community safety by locating gunfire and other explosive events, and ultimately, helping reduce and prevent gun violence and improving intelligence-led policing and community policing initiatives. SST solutions protect cities and countries around the world, with more than 80 installations in four countries and in more than 75 US cities. Privately held, the company possesses a multitude of patents that are the result of nearly two decades of innovation in the area of acoustic gunshot location technology. Information about SST and ShotSpotter can be found at www.sst-inc.com or www.shotspotter.com. You can also follow SST and ShotSpotter solutions on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SST, Inc.
Lydia Barrett, 650-833-9534
Vice President, Communications
lbarrett@shotspotter.com

Source: SST, Inc.

Released March 14, 2013