Public Records Free Directory Blog

The Minneapolis, MN police department has posted maps of gunshot locations on it’s website.  What makes this so unusual is that the maps are created from a real-time audio surveillance system produced by ShotSpotter, Inc. of  Mountain View, CA.

A series of highly sensitive directional audio sensors are connected to computer software that can accurately place the location of gunshots in real time.   Police can be dispatched to locations where gunfire is occurring before the first calls ( or  no calls )  are coming into the dispatch center.

We’d heard of systems like this being used in Iraq but we were not aware that they were in use in U.S. Cities.  ShotSpotter says it has systems installed in dozens of U.S. and foreign cities. 

The Minneapolis maps are linked from our Hennepin County, MN Public Records Page.