So the question is: WHEN? Who wants to participate in this effort to ensure this happens?
At the Tuesday, October 23, 2007 meeting of Kevin Chapple's single-member district ANC2C02, DC Councilman Evans addressed the mostly-Shaw attendees for over an hour and a half; most of this responding to the bombarding questions on crime and the City's response. Flanking him, Metropolitan Police Department's Third District Commander McCoy described the valiant efforts of his department in combating the godless scourge (which includes gunfire violence) in the neighborhood (though, these latter words are those of this author, not of the commander).
Councilman Evans responded to my inquiry on and call for ShotSpotter technology by stating that he would sponsor legislation to purchase and install ShotSpotter technology. Cmdr. McCoy tried to explain some of the reasons that it was not already widely deployed, including the issue that the FBI was formerly the dispensor of the largesse for this program and that ShotSpotter-2.0 (as the author calls it) just recently verged on easier use.
With Evan's support, in conjunction with Councilman Graham's comments last week that "we need it", the devil is now in the details of getting from our elected leader's supportive comments, to actual, roll-up the sleeves, sponsor the legislation, fund it, and get this system installed.
Gunfire is a public health epidemic with, in my review, a few required responses: 1) The extent of the problem needs to be assessed/measured; 2) Response to each and every gunfire incident needs to be immediate and unyeilding. Shotspotter techology provides the required tools for this required response.
If you are interested in contributing to an effort supporting this installation leave a comment below or to square394@gmail.com .
Addtional Reading:
1. Review Wired's 3/2007 coverage of ShotSpotter (thanks to Off-Seventh for pointing this piece out to me).
2. Gunshot Sensors Are Giving D.C. Police Jump on Suspects
System Can Determine Location of Crime
By Allison KleinWashington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, October 22, 2006; Page A01
