A gun detection system approved by the governing body in August 2011 is not yet operating, Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig told the City Council Monday.
Meanwhile, he said, there was another shooting this month. (In answer to Plaintalker's query, Hellwig explained Friday that the Feb. 4 shooting of a New York man, 60, on West Fourth Street, resulted in the victim losing sight in both eyes.)
Hellwig said jurisdictional issues over use of utility poles and some technical problems have held up implementation of the much-touted "ShotSpotter" program, first offered as a $1 million solution to gun violence in the city and later as a $169,000 lease plan funded by a public safety technology grant. So far, no funds have been expended.
City officials had expected the system, which uses sensors to locate and analyze gunshots, would be operational within two months or less from the time of council approval.
"We believed it was a turn-key operation," Hellwig said Monday.
Equipment was redesigned due to "electrical concerns" and wind resistance of the sensors was also an issue.
"The saga is still continuing," he said.
Councilman William Reid, who opposed the plan all along, saying the city has "50,000 shot spotters" in its residents, repeated his comment Monday and said "It sounds like ShotSpotter sold us a bill of goods on that contract."
Reid cautioned Hellwig to make sure the $250,000 technology grant funding is not lost due to the delay.
The agenda Monday also had a resolution to authorize a contract for $221,843 to renovate the 9-1-1 center in police headquarters for monitoring CCTV cameras, but Hellwig said the cameras were not needed to start the gunshot sensor plan. Officials now know it usually takes about six months to get approvals for pole use, but Hellwig said he is "pressing them on a weekly basis" to resolve the outstanding issues.
--Bernice
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