NYPD Implements Shotspotter

[Ben]

NYPD has begun using Shotspotter technology - hardware and software to pinpoint gunshots. It will be interesting to learn (if they make it public) what safeguards are in place to protect privacy.

The microphones are all in public places, so there may be no legal privacy protections, but an active and automated 24/7 system in place, instead of officers having to "manually" monitor with microphones in specific instances, is somewhat worriesome to me regarding potential abuses.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/03/18/nypd-spends-15-million-on-electronic-ears-to-listen-for-gunshots-in-bronx/

[Boomhauer]

I thought they and other cities had installed it already and have not had much luck with it working.

[RoadKingLarry]

I thought they and other cities had installed it already and have not had much luck with it working.

That's because the right people weren't in charge.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Shot spotter worked in dc and its designed to learn the acoustic idiosyncrasies of an area so it improved. Not aware that it was used to monitor conversations and conversations in public are fair game i thought


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[Triphammer]

Can't speak to any other areas but Az. Anyone can video any one in any reasonable public space. A conversation can only be heard, listened to or recorded by someone taking part in the conversation or with a warrant.

[French G.]

Any competent large scale criminal activity in a metro area should attempt to activate and overload emergency services as a prelude. Seems like another system to spoof and more information to process.

[vaskidmark]

Scenario #1 - BGs shoot and cops know where to go even if there is nobody around able to call for help.  When you need a cop they are still only minutes away.  But that's OK because everybody knows that law-abiding shooters in NYC will hang around to help the cops investigate so they can clear their name.

Scenario #2 - BGs do not go around shooting everybody they interact with.  Money for more cops/cop cars (*hack, spit* am I really proposing that?) taken up by technology that essentially provides no protection and assists in a dwindling number of investigations.

Scenarion #3 - put them up in areas know to have lots of shootings (gangbanger drivebys, f'rinstance).  BGs rig them up to play atrocious rap.

The only profit I see here is to the vendor and the politician(s) who are getting some sort of kickback.

stay safe.

[dogmush]

Scenario #4: BG Shoots someone (mugging gone bad, spat between criminals, whatever) and takes off.  Victim falls to the ground, but instead of bleeding out overnight (since no one called 911) is still alive when cops show up and activate EMS.

It's an expensive system, but it does work pretty much as designed, can help, and is an order of magnatude less stupid then many things NYC has spent tax dollars on.  Meh.

[AJ Dual]

Shotspotter has increased the recovery of spent shell casings, and interviews of witnesses who didn't see anything by over 400% in the cities where the system is used.

[DustinD]

Shot spotter is the excuse a police group is using to oppose suppressors in Minnesota.

A large city in California abandoned the program.

[brimic]

The only profit I see here is to the vendor and the politician(s) who are getting some sort of kickback.

Nailed it!

[HankB]

. . . The only profit I see here is to the vendor and the politician(s) who are getting some sort of kickback . . .

When analyzing the rationale for government spending programs, there's one maxim to remember: Always follow the money. ALWAYS.

[vaskidmark]

Scenario #4: BG Shoots someone (mugging gone bad, spat between criminals, whatever) and takes off.  Victim falls to the ground, but instead of bleeding out overnight (since no one called 911) is still alive when cops show up and activate EMS.

It's an expensive system, but it does work pretty much as designed, can help, and is an order of magnatude less stupid then many things NYC has spent tax dollars on.  Meh.

That's Scenario #1.

stay safe.

[MicroBalrog]

conversations in public are fair game i thought

Clearly since the 4th Amendment does not cover conversations in public, we cannot in any way oppose the concept of recording said conversations.

[KD5NRH]

Can it tell the difference between a gunshot (which could be any of several calibers) and any type of firecracker readily available in packs of thousands?

Wouldn't exactly take a criminal genius to figure out how to decoy and/or just plain overload the system.

[Ben]

Clearly since the 4th Amendment does not cover conversations in public, we cannot in any way oppose the concept of recording said conversations.

Yes, that.

It may very well be 100% legal and 'for my safety". So is TSA. Doesn't mean I have to like either concept. I'm much more a proponent of living free than I am of living safe.

[Boomhauer]

I doubt the shotspotter microphones are much good at all for picking up conversations, especially in loud urban areas.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Roof top microphones are not too scary
http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/shotspotter-detection-system-documents-39000-shooting-incidents-in-the-district/2013/11/02/055f8e9c-2ab1-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html


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