DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Anthony L. Treviño, Interim Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the Gunshot Detection System (GDS) Technology.
SUMMARY:
The City of San Antonio Purchasing Division of the Finance Department, Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) and the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) has completed the process in seeking, reviewing and selecting a vendor for the deployment of a Gunshot Detection System (GDS).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Police Department with the Purchasing Division of Finance, developed and released a Request for Offers (RFO) and evaluated the offers that were submitted. The City is currently finalizing a contract with the recommended Awardee for the initial phase of this project.
The current practice requires an officer to either hear/witness the gunfire incident or be dispatched based on calls/reports by citizens. Due to the nature of these occurrences many incidents are not witnessed or reported. The conceptual use of the GDS will serve as a law enforcement tool to accurately detect, identify and respond to gunfire incidents. This system will decrease officer response time to incidents involving illegal gunfire within the detection area.
The SAPD will deploy pilot programs to two designated suburban areas located on the East and West side of San Antonio. The Awardee will provide subscription based access to gunshot detection system. The service will cover two areas each comprised of approximately two square miles.
The GDS acoustic surveillance system can detect and locate gunfire throughout the two coverage areas within San Antonio. The GDS service features real-time location and audio recording of gunfire incidents and provides instant review and assessment of gunshot happenings by trained gunshot review experts. After confirmation of a gunshot incident, data is passed to 911 dispatchers thus allowing faster and more efficient officer response.
The Department will continue to monitor the evolving technology in gunfire detection and seek additional funding to further deployment within our field operations. This system will be purchased utilizing a Public Health or Safety Exemption.
ISSUE:
This action continues City Council's policy of seeking innovative programs and technology for City crime prevention and law enforcement programs.
ALTERNATIVES:
Without a Gunshot Detection System the SAPD will continue to respond to calls for service regarding gunfire incidents without the assistance of advanced technology to enhance police response.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this program is determined primarily by the size of the target area(s), consisting of: a $10,000 one-time installation cost per square mile (4 mile proposed area(s) $40,000), a $10,000 one-time programming fee, and a $55,000 annual monitoring fee per square mile (4 mile proposed $55,000). The selected vendors first year total $270,000, with an annual cost thereafter of $220,000. The initial FY2016 Proposed Budget includes a $280,000 proposed allocation to provide funding for implementing a gunshot detection pilot program in two selected areas of San Antonio.
The selected vendor will maintain, update, and upgrade all monitoring and sensory equipment as well as monitor all activity at their national review center, analyze the data, and relay it to SAPD Communications for further dispatch of the gunfire activity.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City of San Antonio adopt this program to identify and outfit an area(s) with a history of high instances of calls for service involving gunfire. Staff recommends the approval of a contract with the selected vendor to provide SAPD with subscription based access to the Gunfire Detection System. SAPD anticipates bringing this item to the full City Council for approval in September.
Additional consideration will be given to any upgrades and changes in technology and capabilities which occur over the next year to identify alternatives/competitors/similar solutions for submission of another RFCSP/RFO/RFI.
It is also recommended the San Antonio Police Department continue to monitor the acoustic acquisitioning system for possible future deployment. This system will be purchased utilizing a Public Health or Safety Exemption.