Title
Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Director of Public Safety to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to explore new and developing technologies to provide a program of gunshot detection systems in the City of Pittsburgh.
Body
WHEREAS, while the City of Pittsburgh remains one of the safest cities in the nation, gun violence is a concern with 2414 incidents of shots fired through August of 2009 alone; and,
WHEREAS, City officials are continuing to explore how new and developing technologies can be used to stem the tide of gun violence for the safety of out communities; and,
WHEREAS, a Special Committee of Council of Police Officer Safety was established to provide increased focus on the emerging policies and technologies to increase officer safety; and,
WHEREAS, companies have developed gunshot detection systems that recognize and locate gunfire through microphone-type sensors installed in designated spots on city streets which alert the 911 Emergency System with positioning information on the location of the gunfire within seconds of the gunshots; and,
WHEREAS, this “off-the-shelf” technology offers precise time, type and location identification of gun fire, it allows for faster, more informed, safer police and emergency response, increasing potential for arrest of suspects, safer response procedures, allowing for a police response even if no one calls 911 to report gun fire and enhancing the accuracy of forensics work, consequently improving operational efficiency and safety; and,
WHEREAS, national news organizations as well as the Democratic Leadership Council have identified this type of technology as a promising and exciting way to enhance ongoing efforts to reduce gun violence in cities and towns; and,
WHEREAS, Federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the United Stated Attorney's Office, certain branches of our armed forces and the Department of justice along with cities such as Los ...
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