Seattle wants to track gun violence with surveillance system

The City of Seattle wants to set up a new high-tech response to gun violence.

Surrounded by a crowd at the Rainier Beach Community Center, Mayor Ed Murray announced Thursday that the city intends to put an Acoustic Gunshot Location Systems in the Central District and Rainier Valley.

“The system is simple,” Murray said. “Detectors listen for sounds of gunshots. When they occur, the technology provides police with accurate information where shots were fired.”

Related: Video: Renton Red Lion shooters fire and flee on camera

Officials picked those neighborhoods to host the systems because reported gun shots have been concentrated in areas around the Central District, Rainier Valley and South Park. The Seattle City Council, however, will review the program and must approve it before it is implemented.

Such systems use sound-monitoring sensors and cameras to track gunshots. At least 67 cities in the country use the technology, according to the city. When gunfire is picked up by sensors, a computer calculates where the shots most likely originated from and relays that information to police. Cameras are also activated and focus on where the gunshots likely came from. Images from cameras can be used to identify suspects, cars they used, and other information for detectives.

“Swifter intervention means more effective law enforcement,” Murray said. “Officers will actually be able to respond before someone can call … and there will be less guesswork involved where shots were fired.”

City officials provided a series of statistics to back its argument for the new system. Since the beginning of the year, 144 incidents involving gunshots have been reported in Seattle; five people have been killed, and 24 people have been injured by firearms. The city also notes that 69 people have been assaulted by someone with a gun — more than half of which are African American.

In contrast, there were 154 incidents of gunshots, two firearm-related deaths, and 27 injuries in 2015. Gunfire is most often reported during the evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays. During the first three months of 2016, police  seized 438 guns, which is 77 more weapons taken in during the first five months of 2015.

Council member Bruce Harrell said he has floated the idea around the Central District and Rainier Valley areas. He said he has received mostly positive responses, but notes there are some concerns about installing surveillance equipment. Mayor Murray stressed that the system will only be used for its intended purpose.

“This is not a general surveillance tool in the city,” Murray said.

Harrell said that there are four outcomes that the system should provide:

• Increased chances of apprehending shooters
• Increased chances of recovering weapons and shells
• Increased chances of stopping further crime
• Increased accuracy of gun reporting data

In addition to the gunshot monitoring system, Murray also announced that he will propose legislation that will alter how surplus service weapons from the police department are sold. Currently, it’s required that all excess police guns are sold to parties outside of Washington state. Murray proposes that the service weapons will only be sold to other law enforcement agencies.

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