By Marc Morial and Ralph Clark
Americans are rethinking what public safety should look like. In an unprecedented manner, citizens are demanding accountability from law enforcement—especially as it relates to policing in Black neighborhoods—leading to meaningful progress and long-overdue reforms. As African American men who understand that history is fraught with unjust policing, we’re encouraged by this momentum. But we’re also acutely aware of the urgent, ongoing crisis that continues to devastate many of our neighborhoods: gun violence.
That’s why we believe technology like Acoustic Gunshot Detection Systems (AGDS), should be part of the conversation in Cincinnati.
ShotSpotter, the leading AGDS solution, uses a network of acoustic sensors that detect gunfire in real time. When a loud sound is detected, trained analysts determine whether that sound is gunfire. If it is, an alert is sent to police—usually within 60 seconds.
This technology matters, especially in neighborhoods where gun violence is a daily terror and about 80% is never reported via 911. This gap in reporting can be deadly. When police are unaware that gunfire has occurred, they are also unaware that a victim may have been shot. First responders aren’t dispatched. Victims are left without help. Neighborhoods feel ignored.
Alarmingly, over 90% of firearm homicide victims nationally are young Black men. In Ohio, the disparities in firearm-related homicides are particularly pronounced, as Black residents are 18 times more likely to be killed by gun violence than their white neighbors. Even though Black men, aged 15 to 34, comprise less than 2% of Ohio’s population, they are the victims in 41% of homicides. These Black men are 30 times more likely to be shot and killed than their white counterparts. And this issue isn’t limited to men: Black women are also disproportionately victimized, being killed by firearms at a rate nine times that of white women.
In Cincinnati, the disparity is even more staggering: Black males aged 10 to 24 face gun homicide rates nearly 120 times higher than their white peers. These aren’t just numbers: they represent real people—with friends, families, and futures—lost.
To tackle this crisis that plagues Black communities and stifles advancement, we need solutions that are simultaneously effective and equitable. ShotSpotter is one such solution.
When someone is shot, “time is tissue” as surgeons say. Faster response times yield more rapid medical care and, with it, a greater chance of survival. Often ShotSpotter is the only reason that police have located gunshot-wound victims. The system enhances the ability of first responders to save lives.
Residents in high-violence areas understand ShotSpotter’s value because they’ve experienced it firsthand. They’ve seen the lives saved, and contrary to some misinformed activists, know this isn’t about surveillance. It’s about survival.
Cincinnati deployed ShotSpotter in 2017. Over the past year, the technology generated over 3,400 alerts of gunfire—totaling 12,000 rounds in all.
Independent research backs up the ShotSpotter’s effectiveness. A study from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville found a 46% drop in violent crime in neighborhoods using ShotSpotter. And a University of Cincinnati survey revealed that 95% of residents in ShotSpotter-covered areas viewed it as effective, with nearly 90% recommending it be deployed across other neighborhoods.
Technology can’t solve everything—but it can save lives. And when it comes to tackling gun violence, saving lives is what matters most.
As cities wrestle with how to make public safety more just and more responsive, we must be open to tools that meet the moment. ShotSpotter offers law enforcement the ability to respond quickly, consistently, and objectively.
The future of public safety depends on how well we balance innovation with accountability. ShotSpotter is one tool as part of a holistic strategy to address gun violence, including community violence interruption and other programs. It is a proven, data-driven tool that addresses the chronic underreporting of gun violence.
When a gun is fired, every second matters. ShotSpotter understands there is no time to waste.
Marc Morial is the President and CEO of the National Urban League, the former Mayor of New Orleans, and a member of SoundThinking’s Board of Directors.
Ralph Clark is the President and CEO of SoundThinking, Inc., the company that created ShotSpotter.