ShotSpotter
Regarding the article “Gunfire alert system firm makes pitch to city” (Nov. 16):
I hope the Greenwood City Council takes some time to independently research the ShotSpotter system.
Although Ron Teachman (the individual selling the system) claims that citizens dial 911 in response to only 20 percent of shots fired, a 2014 article published by sfgate.com found that of 258 reports of shots fired within the Oakland, California, area being monitored by the ShotSpotter system, 197 were reported by local residents during a one-month period. There is no independent data that measures how effective the ShotSpotter system is.
According to a 2016 article published by Wisconsin Public Radio, most claims about the efficacy of the system are anecdotal and based on the stories of clients. We just don’t know if this system will have any crime-reducing benefit. Without that information, is it worth investing over $300,000 based on hope and the promises of the company selling the equipment?
Instead of spending the money to surveil our citizens, why don’t we spend it improving police relationships with the community? Invest in more body cams. Hire more officers. Pay them more money. Allow officers to have more positive interactions with citizens. These are easier, long-term solutions to the gun problem in our community. Better yet, they are research-based and supported by evidence.
Want to improve our community? Invest in people, not some system with no documented effectiveness.
Get Woke
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Concerning the Shot-Spotter gunfire alert system that is being considered in Greenwood:
The purpose of the gunfire alert system is to find the outlaws. The real purpose of all of us should be to keep people from becoming outlaws in the first place.
T. Dumb Redneck
Trump victory
Regarding the editorial “Trump’s victory is no fluke” (Nov. 9):
The best thing about Donald Trump winning is Hillary Clinton losing. The insults and condescension from know-it-all liberal elitist “progressives” played a “HUGE” part in Trump being elected.
Gonzoidal
