PASADENA, Calif. — The FBI released data from 2020 indicating homicides across the nation increased by nearly 30%, and over the past year the City of Pasadena has also noticed an increase in gun-related crimes.
Pasadena will consider a three-year 640,000 dollar plan with the gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter.
“ShotSpotter is a gunfire detection and alert system,” explained Pasadena Police Lieutenant William Grisafe. “The company installs detectors and sensors throughout the city and what the sensors do is they pick up any loud, explosive sounds such as gunfire, fireworks, backfires. It will go through a several-phase review of the sound and determine if it’s gunfire. Once it is determined that it is gunfire it will send an alert to our officers via mobile device and it will alert them to gunfire.”
Grisafe says this sort of technology can help quicken response times to gunshots and assist in investigations.
“It’s important to note that this is merely a tool to assist our investigations. It’s not the end-all, be-all for our investigations.”
Lawrence Carroll moved to Pasadena at the start of 2020, he fell in love with his home and community and joined his Neighborhood Watch.
When he heard about the concept of ShotSpotter, he did his research.
“Why wouldn’t I agree with something like ShotSpotter? I’m a father and I think with anyone who has children, you want your neighborhood to be as safe as it can be,” said Carroll.
But not everyone is welcoming this purchase for Pasadena. John Doyle has lived in Pasadena for nine years. He explained that the guns aren’t the problem, but it’s the hands they fall into.
He is calling for a different approach to solving gun violence.
“The drivers of gun violence are severe poverty and some of the stuff that this technology will do doesn’t solve that. Affordable housing, access to health care, jobs — and those create stressors in the community and this technology doesn’t alleviate those stressors,” said Doyle.
Doyle plans on running for City Council in District Four to make his voice heard.
The city of Pasadena plans to discuss the purchase of ShotSpotter at a council meeting on Monday, October 4.