Untitled

Summary

The City Council of Fayetteville, NC, directed staff to conduct a data review of ShotSpotter effectiveness, examining 18 months of activity across three designated coverage zones. The review found that ShotSpotter improves speed and precision of police response, with officers dispatched 2 minutes faster for ShotSpotter alerts than for 911 calls alone. However, the data shows no direct correlation between ShotSpotter implementation and citywide decrease in gun violence. The technology's measurable value is operational, not investigative, and key productivity gains come from the combination of ShotSpotter alerts and 911 calls.

Details

Subject

ShotSpotter Program Evaluation

Summary

The City Council of Fayetteville, NC, directed staff to conduct a data review of ShotSpotter effectiveness, examining 18 months of activity across three designated coverage zones. The review found that ShotSpotter improves speed and precision of police response, with officers dispatched 2 minutes faster for ShotSpotter alerts than for 911 calls alone. However, the data shows no direct correlation between ShotSpotter implementation and citywide decrease in gun violence. The technology's measurable value is operational, not investigative, and key productivity gains come from the combination of ShotSpotter alerts and 911 calls.

Report Date

2026-04

Report Type

evaluative

Report Title

Executive Summary — Wilson Center’s ShotSpotter Program Evaluation

Authoring Body

Office of Strategic Performance & Analytics (SPA) | Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) | Office of Special Projects | Office of Community Safety (OCS) | SoundThinking (ShotSpotter)

Reporting Period

18 months