Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Public Safety Director to enter into contract for the second year of a three-year agreement with SoundThinking Inc., formerly ShotSpotter Inc,. to continue a gunfire detection, alert, and analysis program. Ordinance 1644-2022, amended by ordinance 2543-2022 passed October 3, 2022, established a three-year agreement with ShotSpotter, a subscription based service that involves the installation of a gunfire sensor network in areas identified by the City. These sensors connect to a cloud-based data center infrastructure, providing a 24/7/365 gunfire monitoring service within a twelve (12) square-mile radius of the installed sensor infrastructure.
In addition to gunfire detection, the SoundThinking service will notify law enforcement agencies of gunfire incidents and direct them to the precise location of gunfire. The service also offers the capability to instantly notify officers of shootings in progress with real-time data delivered to dispatch officers, patrol cars, and smart phones. The alerts are intended to improve police response to incidents of gunfire, enhance officer safety, speed aid to victims, assist in investigations and the collection of evidence, and ultimately, the apprehension of dangerous offenders. The original contract for services with SoundThinking, formerly ShotSpotter dated October 4, 2018 was established by ordinance 2151-2018.
Because of the established relationship with this contractor and the fact that they have technology in place at the required locations to interface with Columbus police equipment, it was not practical to bid out this service and incur start-up fees and breaks in coverage.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested in order to provide continuity to the gunfire detection program without any interruption after expiration of the first year.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation authorizes an expenditure of $840,000.00 from the General Fund with SoundThinking I...
Click here for full text