Untitled

Summary

The City Council of Fayetteville, NC, directed staff to conduct a data review of ShotSpotter effectiveness. The review found that ShotSpotter improves speed and precision of police response, with officers being dispatched faster and arriving on scene sooner. However, the data shows that ShotSpotter's measurable value is operational, not investigative, and that key productivity gains come from the combination of ShotSpotter alerts and 911 calls. The report also notes that there is no direct correlation between ShotSpotter implementation and citywide decrease in gun violence.

Details

Subject

ShotSpotter Program Evaluation

Summary

The City Council of Fayetteville, NC, directed staff to conduct a data review of ShotSpotter effectiveness. The review found that ShotSpotter improves speed and precision of police response, with officers being dispatched faster and arriving on scene sooner. However, the data shows that ShotSpotter's measurable value is operational, not investigative, and that key productivity gains come from the combination of ShotSpotter alerts and 911 calls. The report also notes that there is no direct correlation between ShotSpotter implementation and citywide decrease in gun violence.

Report Date

2026-04

Report Type

study

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