The Atlanta Police Department, in partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation, is conducting a test of new technology, ShotSpotter, that can detect the originating site of a gunshot in real time.

ShotSpotter alerts police within 60 seconds of when a shot is fired, pinpointing the number of shots and location of the gun use.

The technology will be tested at no cost to the City of Atlanta for three months in a five-mile corridor on Atlanta’s Westside, under the auspices of APD’s Operation Shield network, as part of APD and Mayor Bottoms’ efforts to address gun-related crimes.

“The Atlanta Police Department is committed to exploring technologies that can contribute to more efficient policing and effective enforcement,” said Chief Rodney Bryant. “Technology coupled with old-fashion police work will be beneficial in our efforts to stop gun violence in our city.”

According to ShotSpotter, only 10 to 20 percent of gun related incidents are reported to 911 centers across the country. ShotSpotter technology tested successfully by other large urban police departments, dramatically increasing law enforcement response to gunfire incidents.

At the end of the pilot, APD will assess the success of the program to determine whether they will employ similar technology long term.