Sites&Sounds

Ward 2 Sounds of Gunshots, April 4, 2008

According to the latest MPD Ward 2 map indicating calls for gunshots, my single member district and the area at the heart of the ANC2C boundaries, still seems to be the epicenter of the MPD calls for gunshots in Ward 2 this year. This area is also the focus of new MPD strategies to put more foot patrols on the street and the area of focus for Shotspotter.

The map (at right) outlines the preliminary boundaries for MPD’s deployment of a gun shot detection system. Survey and construction engineering programming is still underway. Shotspotter technology is exptected be up and running in Shaw by the end of this month.

Cary Silverman noted here that Shotspotter will be linked to the MPD crime cameras that are already used in the neighborhood.

ShotSpotter triangulates the location of gunshots within a few feet. It is currently installed only in Southeast, though there are plans to put the technology in such Northwest neighborhoods as Shaw and Columbia Heights, which have been hit hard by gang violence. Police officials say the technology has been used over 17 months to recover 10 weapons and make eight arrests, including a man accused of killing a landscaper working in Anacostia in October 2006.
— MPD plans to link crime cameras, ShotSpotter, The Washington Times, April 7, 2008