Endicott’s ShotSpotter Gunshot-Detection System is Working

No criminal incidents have been detected since a new system designed to identify and locate gunfire has been in operation in the village of Endicott.

The ShotSpotter technology has been operational since last November.

Police Chief Patrick Garey said the system has not detected an actual shooting incident since it's been available to the police department.

But, Garey said, the ShotSpotter technology did identify several ceremonial shots that were fired at the Endicott War Memorial a few days ago. In that case, police quickly verified the gunfire detected was not criminal in nature.

The company behind ShotSpotter says the technology employs a network of acoustic sensors to detect and pinpoint possible gunshots using triangulation.

Loud noises from vehicles and fireworks can sometimes be misinterpreted by the ShotSpotter system resulting in false alarms. But a human reviewer is used to quickly analyze record sound patterns to try to sort out incidents that don't involve gunfire.

Garey said village police officers have been dispatched to several locations in recent months to investigate sounds identified by ShotSpotter as possible gunshots.

In those cases, officers interviewed people and canvassed the targeted area to determine whether the sounds came from other sources.

Garey said the village police department has gained experience since the technology was deployed. He said "we really understand the system and how to use it."

Funding for the Endicott ShotSpotter system was provided through a state grant.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.