Situation
APD, in partnership with investigators at the Crime Lab and the Real Time Crime Center, launched a new pilot initiative called the ShotSpotter Hotspot Organized Tracking program (known as the S.H.O.T. program) to proactively address gun violence in a Southeast Albuquerque neighborhood with a high number of ShotSpotter gunshot detections.
APD sent a general letter that went to residents in the immediate area who were directly being affected by the frequent gunshots letting them know that the police were aware of the concerns and committed to addressing the gun violence. A separate letter was then sent to locations identified by ShotSpotter where the shots were originating and warned of the consequences of people firing guns.
The department also printed and handed out 350 signs to individuals to be placed in yards and in front of homes, urging neighbors to report gun crimes in the area as a community effort to assist APD. Follow-up investigative work was then conducted by detectives as well as DIVRT (Digital Image and Recovery Team) who canvassed the area and looked for video evidence/surveillance of gun crimes.
Results
47%
The pilot program led to a 47% decrease in gunshot detections in the Southeast neighborhood.
Gun crimes are an issue in our community and [ShotSpotter] is a proactive measure that is also helping build strong relationships with community members to collaborate and cut down gunshots fired in our city.
