Heated debate over potential use of ShotSpotter technology in Durham :: WRAL.com

By Sarah Kreuger, WRAL Durham reporter

A heated debate at the Durham Metropolis Council spending budget meeting led to tears, even personalized insults. The source of the controversy — a gunshot detection engineering known as ShotSpotter.

WRAL News has been masking stories about the risk of ShotSpotter coming to Durham because at least 2019.

What is actually unique now is that ShotSpotter lastly has sufficient assist from Council that it is nearly surely on the way.

ShotSpotter is employed close to the place — with blended evaluations. Some claim the technologies assisted police seize guns and make arrests. Other folks say it is ineffective and potential customers to pointless encounters with police.

That divisiveness very clear on the Durham Town Council as properly, in which emotions ran large throughout the discussion.

The technological know-how has guidance from the bulk of Council, that means the approximately $198,000 it wants to get off the ground will probable be granted.

The assembly was emotional, as Councilman Leo Williams spoke about a previous student of his who was killed by gunfire.

“His identify was Reginald,” he mentioned, fighting again tears.

And at occasions — it was tense.

Law enforcement Chief Andrews explained to WRAL Information soon after the assembly, “I never know sufficient about ShotSpotter. I would say this: We have to do a thing.”

Andrews promised to share information and be clear about how it is heading and says she is listening to criticism — and will consider it to coronary heart.

Andrews claims this really should roll out around September, but you can hope a ton far more facts ahead of then. ShotSpotter will initially will be deployed for a few square miles of the city – but the actual location has not still been decided.