Don't Be Alarmed As Cambridge Police Test ShotSpotter Service

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Don't be alarmed if you think you hear the sound of gunshots Tuesday night in The Port and Wellington-Harrington neighborhoods. Cambridge Police will be conducting a series of ShotSpotter tests between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. to determine the accuracy of the service that can pinpoint the origin of a gunshot within a minute in an actual emergency.

Police say the controlled testing will include no bullets being shot into the open and that there is no danger to the public. Tests will take place in three locations, which will be held in cordoned-off areas away from public access.

TONIGHT: Officers will be conducting controlled gunshot testing between 8:30-10:30p in The Port & Inman-Harrington to evaluate the city’s ShotSpotter gun detection service. There is no danger to the public; residents should not be alarmed. #CambMA https://t.co/j9T19QHrMt pic.twitter.com/MPgqcgA6pO
— Cambridge Police (@CambridgePolice) August 27, 2019

The ShotSpotter service uses the sound of the explosion radiating from the origin to determine where it occurred. Once sensors determine the sound is a gunshot, the origin can be determined within and transmitted to patrol officers. This can dramatically shortened the time needed to determine exactly where a gun was fired from between 10 and 20 minutes to less than one minute.

For more information on the testing or ShotSpotter, residents are asked to contact the Cambridge Police Department at 617-349-3237 or pio@cambridgepolice.org.