Quincy commissioners consider purchasing gunshot detection system

Erin Hill Gadsden County News Service

Quincy commissioners are considering purchasing gunshot detection technology to help combat violent crime. During a recent commission meeting, Quincy Police Chief Carlos Hill said he started looking into the Flock Raven system in late 2024, because of shootings in the city. The chief said he decided to put it on hold and put more officers on the street. Hill said he wanted the company to come in and present information so the commission could make a decision on purchasing the cameras, with hopes of moving forward this year or next year. Daniel Sekerak said the technology allows agencies to solve crimes faster and eliminate crimes before they happen. Sekerak said the system has:90 percent detection accuracy, with 30 percent more gunshots reported. “So you’re going to get more gunshots using these devices, and you’re going to know about it before 911 is ever called,” Sekerak said.

Sekerak said the system consists of multiple devices and uses a triangulation effect, where the devices close to it will detect the sound, and hone in on exactly where the gunshot came from, within 90 feet. Sekerak said although the system “listens” for gunshots, it does not record at all times. “It will be triggered when it hears a gunshot, and that's when it starts a 5 second clip,” Sekerak noted.

He said the devices can be integrated into the city’s existing Flock camera system. The current system is only used for identifying and locating vehicles associated with crime. Sekerak also showed the commissioners how officers can log into the system, review the FLOCK cameras and pinpoint cars that were in the area during the time of a shooting. Commissioner Ronte Harris inquired about the cost. Sekerak said the cost depends on the size of the coverage area. “You can cover up a quarter mile–depending on what you want to cover–or a half a mile or a full mile,” Sekerak said. He said there’s no installation fee; there’s a flat annual fee.

Sekerak said the hardware, servicing of hardware, and upgrades are included in that price. Chief Hill said coverage for the lower half of the city could be purchased for $35,000 to $45,0000. That would cover from Barack Obama to South Adams and from Highway 90 to Martin Luther King Boulevard.While Sekerak did suggest layering the entire city with cameras is the best way to prevent crime, he also said if there are certain areas where gun violence is more rampant, then having the ability to have gunshot detection the moment it happens is beneficial and helps get officers out as fast as they can. Hill said it’s not possible to cover the entire city. There would still be some blind pockets. “What this does, when we put our cameras out strategically, and the gunsho recognition system goes off, we might not necessarily see the crime in real time, but we can use their investigative tools–that I really don’t want to get into–that we can determine who did it and entry and exit avenues that they took to get out the city or get into the city,” Hill said. Hill also noted that the system would automatically alert officers within 60 seconds of a gunshot being detected. Commissioner Angela Sapp asked the chief if he had gotten data from any other cities that may have used the system and how it has helped deter crimes. Sekerak said he didn’t have it readily available, but he could put it together. Commissioner Robyn Wood asked Chief Hill if there had been a cost comparison. “Is this the only company that does this?” Wood asked. Hill said as far as he knows Flock Safety is the only company that has that particular software. “Right now they're the leading company that deals with this,” Hill said. Nixon recommended reaching out to the City of Thomasville. He said the same system was used recently to solve a crime there.

Quincy commissioners consider purchasing gunshot detection system

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Quincy commissioners consider purchasing gunshot detection system