November 2007

Tropos MetroMesh and ShotSpotter - Partnering to Reduce Crime in Baton Rouge

In early October 2007, the City of Baton Rouge decided to integrate their city's Tropos-based video surveillance system with the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (GLS) ® to improve city efforts to deter crime. The integration enables the digital cameras to move and focus on the source of gunfire, and in the absence of camera coverage or 911 reports, the ShotSpotter GLS alerts the police department of gunfire activity and collects critical forensic evidence. ShotSpotter GLS uses Tropos' metro Wi-Fi network to securely transmit gunfire event data and video to city public safety officers. In its initial phase in Baton Rouge, the ShotSpotter GLS will monitor eight square miles for gunfire activity.

The ShotSpotter GLS is comprised of sophisticated sensors that pinpoint the location of a gunfire event as well as whether the shooter was stationary or moving; number of shots fired; nearest street address; and a map with the incident's location marked. This data is then relayed to dispatch and police cars equipped with in-vehicle computers. The information gathered by the ShotSpotter GLS provides law enforcement unprecedented forensic information for reconstructing gunfire-related crime scenes, identifying suspects, and building stronger prosecution cases.

Currently used by 24 cities nationwide to support policing and crime analysis, ShotSpotter GLS has contributed to reductions in overall lawless gunfire by as much as 80% and gunfire-related crime by over 30%.

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