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Gunfire once meant uncertainty in Cleveland. Too often, 911 calls never came, victims went unnoticed, and investigators had little to work with once the smoke cleared. That began to change when the city adopted ShotSpotter® in 2020, a gunshot detection system that alerts police within seconds when shots are fired.
Since its introduction, ShotSpotter has first and foremost filled the “invisibility gap” on how often, when, and where gunfire occurs in Cleveland. Research has consistently shown that 80% or more of criminal gunfire does not get reported via 911. Cleveland PD could not respond to gunfire that it didn’t know happened, eroding community trust that often felt ignored.
ShotSpotter has not only filled this invisibility gap, it has also helped save dozens of lives, guided officers to recover illegal firearms, and given investigators a clearer picture of where and when gun violence happens. For Cleveland, it has become not just a policing tool, but a lifeline that helps the city respond faster, collect more evidence, and ultimately make neighborhoods safer.
The results of Cleveland’s ShotSpotter pilot show that this technology is effective and is making a difference,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “ShotSpotter is one of many tools we are incorporating in our fight against gun violence. We are focused on investing in technology and intelligence to reduce gun homicides in our city.
Criminal Gunfire in Cleveland
Cleveland first deployed ShotSpotter in 2020 in the Fourth Police District. Between 2020 and 2023, the system detected more than 10,000 shooting incidents and 24,000 rounds fired. Since only around 20% of these incidents received 911 calls, this equates to more than 8000 incidents that previously would go unreported. Police used those alerts to respond to victims who otherwise might not have been found in time, and city officials credit the technology with helping save 12 lives and recover 66 illegal guns during the initial phase.
Encouraged by those results, Cleveland expanded ShotSpotter citywide in 2023, covering all five police districts with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
ShotSpotter’s Tangible Results in Cleveland
- Lives saved: Since 2022, officials report ShotSpotter has helped save more than 37 lives, with officers and EMS reaching victims faster thanks to immediate alerts.
- Faster response: In 2022, in areas using ShotSpotter, police response times dropped by about two minutes compared to similar areas without coverage—a difference that can mean life or death in shooting cases.
- Evidence recovery and arrests: In October 2022, officers recovered 52 guns and made 44 arrests from ShotSpotter alerts.
ShotSpotter provides thousands of real-time alerts in Cleveland.
ShotSpotter helps reduce shootings in Cleveland.
Not Just Data: ShotSpotter’s Real Human Impact
In August 2025, a violent incident in East Cleveland left two people dead and two police officers wounded, prompting a massive manhunt. After the first shooting during a domestic disturbance, a ShotSpotter alert detected additional gunfire nearby about 90 minutes later, guiding officers back to the scene. The system’s real-time detection helped multiple agencies quickly coordinate their response, establish a perimeter, and deploy drones and ground units, ultimately leading to the suspect’s capture without further violence. Both injured officers survived, and the event highlighted how ShotSpotter’s precise alerts give law enforcement vital situational awareness and faster response during active gun violence.
In February 2025, a suspect wanted in two Cleveland shootings was arrested after a tense East Side standoff that ended without further violence. The investigation began after a ShotSpotter alert detected multiple rounds fired in a neighborhood, leading officers to the scene, where they found a homicide victim. That real-time alert helped direct the initial response and connect evidence linking the same suspect to a previous downtown shooting days earlier. When U.S. Marshals and Cleveland police finally located him hiding inside a Buckeye–Shaker home, they recovered a handgun fitted with a switch device capable of automatic fire, underscoring both the growing threat of modified weapons and the critical role ShotSpotter plays in helping officers respond swiftly to gun violence.
More Than Detection: Building a Safer Cleveland
ShotSpotter isn’t only about alerting officers when a gun is fired. It helps build stronger cases and supports more accurate evidence collection. By pinpointing the exact time and location of shots, detectives can connect shell casings across multiple crime scenes, trace firearms through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), and link suspects or vehicles that appear in related cases.
It also strengthens transparency. The data collected gives both law enforcement and the public a shared set of facts about when and where gunfire occurs. That knowledge supports neighborhood watch groups, city planners, and violence intervention teams working to reduce shootings before they happen.
U.S. Marshals arrest man wanted for murder in East Cleveland
Published: Dec. 27, 2023 at 7:47 AM PST|Updated: Dec. 27, 2023 at 8:15 AM PST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A man wanted for an April murder in East Cleveland was found hiding in a home on Cleveland’s East Side Wednesday morning. According to the U.S. Marshals, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force took Vernitez Bell, 36, into custody at a home in the 13800 block of Argus Ave. Bell is accused of fatally shooting Domonick Allen, 38, on April 4. East Cleveland police said Allen’s body was located in the 13000 block of 5th Ave. when officers were called to the area thanks to ShotSpotter Technology. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Taking violent fugitives off the street is one of our primary responsibilities, and the men and women that make up the US Marshals violent fugitive task force take pride in doing that everyday for the citizens of northern Ohio.”
Building Trust Through Transparency in Cleveland
Cleveland’s leaders understand that technology works best when paired with accountability. That’s why the city is publicly tracking outcomes. Lives saved, guns recovered, response times improved, and studying the results through independent research. Community members, too, are part of the process, ensuring that the system serves public safety without overreach.
Gun violence remains a complex issue, but the results in Cleveland are consistent with other cities using ShotSpotter and show what’s possible when data and technology are deployed to act quickly and save lives. ShotSpotter has helped turn uncertainty into action, giving Cleveland a new tool to protect its people, one alert at a time.
