Six months after the expected end of a one-year ShotSpotter program, the gunshot detection system is still being tweaked, according to comments Monday from Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig.
Hellwig said eight more sensors are being added to the system, as shots are still being missed. The president of the California-based company is coming to Plainfield to explain how service will be improved, Hellwig said.
The ShotSpotter system was showcased in 2010 at a price of $1 million, but the governing body did not endorse use of the system until asked in August 2011 to approve a $169,000 lease option to be funded through a $250,000 grant. Even then, supporters had doubts. Click here for Plaintalker post on the approval.
In February 2012, Hellwig said the program had encountered difficulties including jurisdiction over use of utlity poles and had not yet begun operations (see post here). By April 2012, it was still being refined (link).
By August 2012, the program was still failing to detect shots (link here) and more "fine tuning" was needed.
On Monday, in addition to his updates, Hellwig said half the cost of the program had now been paid to the company.
His remarks were related to a report from Councilwoman Rebecca Williams, the 2013 chair of the council's Public Safety Committee. Williams noted establishment of a "High Impact Crime" team that will both walk and ride on patrol in areas identified through Comstat reports as experiencing high crime levels. In other public safety matters, six new radar units have been added and one or two of the city's constables wish to become auxiliary police officers.
--Bernice
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The only thing being "tweaked" is Hellwig
ReplyDeleteThe High Impact Unit has yet to be explained
ReplyDeleteWhere are the Officers and Supervisor being pulled from
This is a typical election year stunt its the Re-elect Sharon Unit
How will this unit effect police patrols
Where will they be assigned
How much overtime was spent last year for minimum staffing levels
I asked you to check on this Miss Bernice and yet no answers
Just get rid of the Director and bring back the Chief