SST, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D –MO) and other Kansas City, MO officials announced that the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) will be implementing the ShotSpotter gunshot location, alert and analysis solution. This is an effort to support Kansas City's proactive policing strategies and deployments, in its ongoing commitment to improve the safety, security and quality of life for its residen...
SST, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D –MO) and other Kansas City, MO officials announced that the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) will be implementing the ShotSpotter gunshot location, alert and analysis solution. This is an effort to support Kansas City's proactive policing strategies and deployments, in its ongoing commitment to improve the safety, security and quality of life for its residents by ridding the city of gun crime and gun violence. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), was the lead agency in the planning and procurement of the ShotSpotter service for the KCPD, and Congressman Cleaver was instrumental in securing the funding.
“Securing the funding to make this possible for Kansas City has been a long-term effort and a long time coming,” said Congressman Cleaver, II. “I am thrilled the day has finally arrived. My hope is this technology will help our excellent police officers get to victims more quickly, catch criminals more readily, and make our entire city a safer place to live.”
The gunfire data and intelligence provided by ShotSpotter will be critical in supporting KCPD's policing and enforcement efforts across all areas of their operations. Not only does it enable the KCPD to respond faster and more safely to gunfire incidents, but the solution also allows officers to proactively develop effective problem-oriented, data-driven policing strategies and tactical deployments.
“Speeches do not stop crime. Politicians do not stop crime. Determined and effective policing and prosecution, paired with the right tools, stop crime. Citizens standing up and saying, 'not in my neighborhood' stops crime. Today, criminals are looking at a united front,” said Mayor Sly James. “The Department of Justice, our Congressman, our Chief, our Council, the Prosecutor, and every citizen on every block in our city are saying 'enough.' If you fire a gun in Kansas City, we will know and we will hunt you down. My thanks to Congressman Cleaver for finding the dollars to equip Chief Forte with a cutting edge tool that will make Kansas City safer."
Once implemented, KCPD will be able to gather detailed gunfire incident information and forensic evidence from ShotSpotter for investigations and analysis, resulting in increased prosecutions for gun-related crime, and the data will enhance crime analysis and predictive policing capabilities, leading to improved public safety and security.