 The purpose of this briefing is to announce the deployment of our newest technology to assist us with our gun crime reduction efforts. Joining me today is, of course, Mayor Steve Benjamin, Councilman DeVall, Councilman Davis, and Councilman McDowell. Each one of our Council members have been instrumental in making this happen and especially for Councilman Davis and Councilman McDowell, it affects their constituents, especially they represent many of the neighborhoods that are most affected by violent crime. And I think it's most fitting that they are here today to join us in this announcement. So as you know, and frequently hear from me, we have a gun crime problem in Columbia, a problem that we cannot solve alone. It requires a multifaceted approach, emphasizing collaboration, law enforcement, partnerships, positive, trusting relationships with our citizens, education, prevention, and strong law enforcement enforcement efforts, effective gun laws, and of course technology. We know that we have great law enforcement partnerships at every level at the local, state and federal level. We have initiated effective and innovative initiatives such as ceasefire, Columbia, our violent offender call in Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, Operation Real Time, our point of arrest federal case adoption program with with our partners with ATF, the Midlands Gang Task Force, award winning model task force throughout the state. Our gun task force that just in the last year, you've heard us give updates where we've seized well over 1000 guns in the last year, utilizing nabbing our and our initiation of a creation of a gun crime intelligence unit here at the police department. We've advocated for common sense gun laws, graduated sentencing, felons and possession matching federal statutes, universal and standard background checks, laws that address prohibiting people that suffer from mental illness and drug addiction from possessing firearms. We've taken bold steps locally with the bump stock ban. We continuously educate the public on responsible gun ownership, securing your weapons, not leaving weapons in in their vehicles, unsecured, and then reporting stolen weapons. And we always are seeking the best technology to be a force multiplier for us. In September 2018, Columbia City Council unanimously supported the funding for the police department to acquire and purchase shot spotter gunshot detection technology. This technology allows us to respond consistently, precisely and quickly to gunfire events. Many of the events would go unreported if not for this technology. And we'll talk about that in just a minute. Responding all gunfire events is critically important to improving the quality of life for communities that have been most affected by gun violence. It further goes a long way in building institutional trust in the police. So what is shot spotter? Shot spotter is a gunshot detection technology that uses sophisticated acoustic sensors to detect, locate and alert law enforcement and security personnel about illegal gunfire incidents in real time in real time is what's important. Who uses shot spotter? Well, we're the only city in the state of South Carolina that's currently using shot spotter technology. There's a host of other cities to include Oakland, San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, New York City, Pittsburgh. And on our fact sheet that's provided, it gives a list of over 85 cities throughout the country they're using this technology. So how does shot spotter work? It uses acoustic sensors that are strategically placed in an array of locations. Approximately 20 sensors or per square mile, we have six square miles here in Columbia. The sensors are connected wirelessly to shot spotters central lies cloud based operation center. They detect, verify and triangulate the gunshots. The acoustic analysts locate where it occurred and they process that in about 45 seconds. They then send that real time to the police officers in the field and to the dispatch. All of our police officers in Columbia have smartphones that are issued to them. They also have laptop computers in the car. This technology with them sends the gunshot alerts within 45 seconds to those smartphones and laptops. How does shot spotter help law enforcement? Shot spotter protects officers by rapidly notifying them of gunshot crimes and progress with real time data. And we're going to demonstrate that for you in just a second. Officers are able to quickly arrive at a scene of a gun crime. It increases their safety on how they approach. They can approach more strategically apprehensions go up. The ability to recover evidence goes up significantly. Shot spotter provides tremendous value to the citizens that we serve. It saves lives. It improves the quality of life in neighborhoods. And as I said, it improves officer safety, our number one mission. Furthermore, it reduces health care costs associated with gunshot injuries and treatment at the hospital. Over $80 billion a year goes to treating people suffering from gunshot wounds across the country. And we believe that this will have a direct impact on that. We believe it will be able to measurably reduce gun violence and improve public safety and in the process enhance the resiliency of communities that we serve. Here's our protocol on how we how we respond to a shot spotter alert. The gunfire is detected. If y'all don't mind this step in, there you go. This is this is your good right here. So this is what our officers see gunshot gunfire is detected. And within 45 seconds of that detection. It shows up on their phone and in their car. They can pull up a street view of where it's occurring. That's the building internet. Not what's in the car. You can go back to the they can listen to the gunfire. This was just the other day. And on Weston Avenue. And although we know gunfire oftentimes goes unreported, I can say with a certainty that this incident was reported because our councilman reported it directly to us when he heard it. And there was an alert. We responded to the scene. Collected valuable evidence in this particular situation. And it's connected to some other shootings that we've had. So we if this street view comes up, I'll explain the importance of that. But the officers are able to pull up a street view they can they can determine what the best approach is for the for the gunfire. They can identify avenues of escape. So it ups our ability to have apprehensions and then for them to safely approach. There is a they can also click on a on an icon that will give them more detailed report and also give them turn by turn directions. Once they're on scene, they obviously go to the where the coordinates take them, they collect evidence. This is an example of the evidence that they've collected at the scenes. They look to see if they can identify witnesses. And anywhere there's line of sight from where the alert locates a hang door hangers that says the police were here investigating gunfire and we need your help. And not only do we know that gunfire goes unreported about 75% of the time. We know that that occurs because of a lot of reasons, one being a lack of trust. And we think that this is going to create trust with the communities that we serve that we are going to show up. And it does matter, we do need their help in solving crimes. So let me tell you real quickly about what we have seen in 21 days. So what's what's in front of you today represents 21 days of shot spotter being live. We went live April 18. And this is as of 5am yesterday. We've had 131 shot spotter alerts. Of those alerts, they detected 339 shots being fired in our city. We've seized 11 firearms. Two of those farms are stolen. We've collected 114 shell casings from 32 different crime scenes. We've made 23 submissions to the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network Knobbing. That's what connects shootings for us. We've had not or we've had five confirmations already through Knobbing that links an incident to multiple incidents, multiple weapons. We've arrested 13 people. And they've been charged with 21 charges. But here's the part that is what we got to improve upon and why this technology is important. We had 101 131 activations, meaning we detected gunfire and officers were alerted within 45 seconds. Of those only 26 times did a citizen call 911 to report gunfire, which is exactly what what shot spotter was telling us when we were researching this product. So we have to reinforce this to our citizens. If you see something, say something. We are all partners in reducing gun crime in our city. Mayor want to thank Chief Holbrook and the men and women of the sea of Columbia Police Department for the incredible work they do every single day of serving as public guardians for the people of Columbia. I want to say thank you to our our Council Councilman Duvall, Councilman Dowell, Councilman Davis and all of our colleagues and our city manager. This is unanimous decision of City Council to make this investment in shot spotter, which we indeed believe will save lives and make our city safer. All across America, we have over 300 million firearms floating across porous borders. Our city is is a typical way we have a major issue with both with illegal firearms and being able to leverage significant public support, which we believe will grow as we continue to deploy this technology surrounded by the activities of our Police Department. But using smart city technology using data to to help serve as a force multiplier for the great work that these men and women do every single day is a win for the city. And we're looking for good things to come from this new partnership between the funded Police Department and ShotSpotter. Chief mentioned the collaborative efforts that he and Sheriff Watt have been involved in April to April of 1463 guns taken off the streets of the Midlands. That's that's a that's a huge win, a huge win and a move in the right direction. We've got to do more. We've got the right team in place, leadership team under under Chief Holbrook. And we want to make sure that the public knows that that he has the full faith and support of our city council as leadership. Thank you. So I'll be glad to answer any questions anybody might have quite frequently actually. And that's that's why technology has been such a mall force multiplier for law enforcement just in the last few years. I've said, in regards to nabbing technology, that's probably the greatest technology that's come along since DNA and law enforcement. And that's that's why us knowing when a when gunfire occurs, and being able to respond and collect that valuable piece of evidence that really helps us connect dots to crimes and people. So we may not catch you today, but we will link today to tomorrow when we do catch you. And we make sure that we build a stronger case to make sure you go to jail and we hold people accountable. Yes, sir. Well, as I said, the alert gets to the officers in about 45 seconds. And and then as far as our response being on scene, it's truly based on where the where the officers located at the time. The other thing that it does by going directly to the officer is even if an officer is en route to another call or on a call, it helps keep them safer. And they may be in a position to respond, they could be working on a wreck right around the corner. And because they are showing being tied up, the call may go to a unit that's far their way. But since they got instantaneous alert, they might be able to take immediate action that might lead to an apprehension. address the obvious problems with reporting, you say the paperwork and it doesn't report anything. How does that work? So people know their civil liberties aren't going out the window if they walk by this sense or not? That's a great question. The the acoustic equipment detects the gunfire does not record or detect conversations. And it also does not video. This is this is strictly an analysis of, you know, that that decibel level that's created by by gunfire. And that said, you've got recordings of gunfire. Is that something realistically that can be used to make a case later is this technology not far enough to figure out that X gun fired those bullets in that location? If you pull that gun later on? No, they they it is advanced to the point where they can analyze the, you know, that particular sound and tell us what type of caliber of weapon. For the most part, not 100% of the time for most of the time, they can tell us what type of caliber is being fired. And they can also distinguish between an automatic weapon and semi automatic. And if different weapons of different calibers are being being used, multiple weapons being used, and they can also tell if, like if the weapons being fired from a vehicle, directionally where the where the gunfire is coming from and going to. Alright, so your officers arrive on scene, the shooters still there, they return fire at some point. Is that a silent shooting to them? Does that help with evidence say our officers did the right thing just like their body cams? It's part of the part of the narrative. Absolutely. Where are you going to expand this program? You've got six quarter miles. You got a lot more city to cover. Well, that was certainly beyond what we would answer the answers. Yes. I'll let me say one more thing. I'm not gonna wear the I've said it before. And some of you have taken note. This department is on the leading edge of 21st century policing across the country. Chief Holbrook, Deputy Chief Kelly, the the work that's being done here at the city of Columbia Police Department and in in seeking data driven solutions to some complex problems surrounding it with real accountability and transparency. They are they're ahead of the curve. And I hear that everywhere we go, we've had the opportunities to travel to different cities and states and interface with law enforcement professionals all across this country and the federal state and local level. And I don't want to be lost on anyone here that that our chief is is is in the front of the parade doing some amazing things that's being recognized by his colleagues and peers all across the country. Data helps you make much better decisions and and God we trust everyone else bring me data. Right. Yes, sir. All right. Thank you for that. We've got a great team at the police department. Tremendous support from from our council and we've got we've got a lot of work to do. So yes, ma'am, I believe so. And also would say I believe it's who you ask. I can tell you that perception is reality in North Columbia. Folks live it every day. And that's that's not what anybody should have to put up with. And it's certainly not the expectations we have for the quality of life that everybody deserves in Colombia. Six square miles. Strictly data driven. We the area that we've defined is based on where we have the highest concentrations of gun crime. So we want to affect that and change change that narrative and change that footprint. It'd be nice to where we reduce it to the point where we don't need this. But hopefully, you know, we'll continue to define our different areas and hopefully we can expand this this initiative further. Where are those areas? I'll just tell you generally speaking, it's North Columbia. Yes, I think I think those areas are highlighted in your previous internal reports as well. The public public reports on city website. We asked a couple of questions here that are all we can see each other. Do you have any officers that are trained to monitor sounds like coming in? Or is all that shot to or is all that thrown to shots? Good question. It is it is all done by shots bother. They have the acoustic analysts that take the information in. They listen to it and that's what they do within 45 seconds pushing that back out to us. So no, no officers here sort of trained or monitor anything. That's all shots. Okay. Um, one thing that might be a little longer, but they can be useful. Have there been any prominent cases that we and media bring about Johnny's stories on where this is factored in? The answer is no, that's okay. Well, have you done a prominent story in the last 21 days? Okay. You know, we're 21 days into this. I can tell you that we have, you know, we have four alerts that are related to eight cases. It's all the same that's tied into a group of people that and one thing that I think was important that I failed to mention this is this technology is something we're sharing with with the original county. This obviously they we have done it holds we deal with some of the areas that this that this covers. It is that situation where the city's on one side of street counties on the other we have great cooperation from the officers on the ground and it's led to significant recovery of evidence that has there was a recent case where there are some juveniles arrested that were responsible for a number of shootings that were shot, spot or alerts. And they were also responsible for a number of car breakings. Couple more. Um, and he's all kind of fit together here. So gun from or shot firing in Columbia. In recent years, what's the trajectory has it been going up some going down or is it about flat? You know, one, we have not seen precipitous increases. But what we have seen is consistent levels that are over two times the national average when it when comes to violent crime. So that's been steady for over the last 10 years. What we can say we're where we're heading in a positive direction. Last year, we had a reduction of about 20 percent and aggravated assaults people being hit by gunfire. That's that's promising. We had an uptick and homicides. But what the what we really pay attention to is people struck by gunfire aggravated assaults and we saw a reduction and we're we're tracking about a 2% reduction right now year to date. Okay, so that 20% reduction was from last year into this year. That would be counter year last year. Year to date were about 2% down. Alright, so I can ask if it's about down or flat. So I read up on the technology. Obviously the incentive is to reduce gun crime overall. The CEO says that it won't do that alone of the company. You've got a number of other things that it got here. But I wanted you to maybe explain those maybe a little more. So beyond just the goal of reducing gun crime, just go into some of the other goals. Well, I think I think we have to continue to build trust in the community. You know, we can, we can go respond to a call. But what we need and we can collect evidence. But, you know, we want to get to the point where that citizen says, I'm, you know, I'm sick and tired of this going on in my neighborhood. And that's the person that pulled that trigger. And we put some people in jail. Anything else? I mean, I guess all of this type of investigations make these better. More rest against getting guns off the street. It's for all that. Well, it's getting it's getting guns off the street. It's continuing to educate our citizens to be responsible gun owners. But to me, it's getting the right people off the street. It's getting those trigger pullers off the street. So we, you know, we can spend time interacting with the public and non enforcement, non enforcement ways. So just a quick fall on that. When you say building trust because that seems to be the sort of priority, or the top thing you think about beyond just reducing gun crime. How does it kind of a little disconnected on how sort of the new technology built in because students like they can say, Hey, look at what you can say, Hey, look at what we're doing, or because they know you can be more accurate, reliable with your investigation. What's the positive factor? Well, I think if you I think if you've grown up with gunfire being just a part of everyday life and the police aren't aren't there investigating or showing up, there's a sense that maybe they don't care. So it leads to a community being disenfranchised, overpoliced for the wrong reasons. And you know, to me, this week, we talk about being strategic and very direct enforcement, identifying the right people that are causing the problems, the trigger pullers. And this, this helps us drill down and be more focused on the right people in the right places and for the right reasons. Okay, so yeah, that makes total sense. So you're there. It allows you to show up to the communities that you might not show up to report those maybe device call. Correct. Okay, that's all I got. Appreciate it. She talk about the force. Take it back in on this quick. Your office being sent to the exact location, rather than have somebody call in and say we've had shots fired in our neighborhood. You would have had all these evidence if it had been just a normal call. Well, you know, that that's that's a good point to Mr. DeVall, you know, oftentimes when we do get that call of gunfire, it's somebody that thinks they might have heard a shot. But it's not accurate, you know, it depends on trees and buildings. And, you know, it could have been a backfire. But you know, if you report something, you don't see a police or you don't get an outcome, or feel like there's follow up, then that leads to distrust and feeling disenfranchised to this. This is, this is not what we would consider portable technology, like some of the other things that we have. It is. It's going to it's part of the infrastructure that we're building out. Yes. Chief had said hello. I mean, we, we stepped up and made this investment based on the compelling data that we needed to make sure that even in the absence of citizens calling in that we could use the data to make a difference. In less than a month, we're seeing that promise. We're going through the budget process now. And I anticipate that as we move forward, we'll expand the system across across the city. So you mentioned a date. When did y'all prove life September of 2018? Was it was when it was authorized? And then the mapping and engineering took place until until April when we went. Yes. And these weapons and cell casings are actual returns on this investment right now? That's correct. 21 minutes. So matter of personal privilege. Thank you all very much for supporting this endeavor. I think it's a game changer for us. Thank you all for taking the time to come and let us share this with you.