Since the implementation of the ShotSpotter program in the City of Pueblo on February 14, 2024, the Pueblo Police Department has received 321 alerts of shots being fired. Of those events there have been 114 case numbers assigned, approximately 36%. There were 1333 shots detected with officers locating and recovering 687 shell casings, approximately 51%. Officers have recovered 12 pistols, four rifles and arrested or cited nine individuals with additional charges pending further investigation and/or District Attorney review.
Of note, out of the 321 alerts of shots fired, there have only been 86 calls from citizens that coincided with ShotSpotter alerts. Thanks to the ShotSpotter alerts, Officers are able to respond sooner to incidents of shots fired. There were nine times when Officers arrived to find injured individuals on scene, and they were able to render lifesaving first aid measures such as performing CPR or applying tourniquets.
Spent shell casings recovered at ShotSpotter Alert scenes that are suitable for entry in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) are submitted for examination. The NIBIN Program automates ballistics evaluations and provides actionable investigative leads in a timely manner. NIBIN is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in operation in the United States and is available to most major population centers in the United States.
Prior to the NIBIN Program, firearms examiners performed this process manually which was extremely labor intensive. To use NIBIN, firearms examiners or technicians enter cartridge casing evidence into the Integrated Ballistic Identification System. These images are correlated against the database. Law enforcement can search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country. This program is one investigative tool accessed by law enforcement that allows each of us to share information and cooperation easily making all of us more effective in closing cases.
In two of the ShotSpotter alerts where spent shell casings were collected, a search of the Colorado database was conducted, and a lead was found with spent shell casings in previous weapons offenses. The casings in these two alerts generated leads to seven other cases, which will require additional investigation.
These results are encouraging as we are able to better address violent crime in our community with the help of this much needed technology.
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