How Columbia police use city cameras and gunshot sensors to crack cases

The Post and Courier published a story exploring how the Columbia Police Department has been using ShotSpotter as part of their Real-Time Crime Center. According to police, ShotSpotter has proven instrumental in investigating crimes, as demonstrated in a case where it pinpointed the time and location of a gunshot, revealing that a man had accidentally shot himself despite claiming someone else had shot him. “We could’ve been chasing a ghost,” Police Chief Skip Holbrook, adding that the evidence from the crime center “saved investigators many, many hours.” Columbia PD also noted that ShotSpotter has played a crucial role in recent court cases, with ShotSpotter data being paired with surveillance footage to secure convictions in murder trials.