Surrey, B.C., is eyeing technology used south of the border to help combat the growing gun violence in the city.
Since early March there have been 22 shootings in Surrey and Delta, with young drug dealers opening fire on rivals on city streets.
By the time police arrive everyone is gone, including the victims, and in some cases the victims are driving themselves to the hospital.
While authorities have released photos of suspected gangsters and appealed to the public through community meetings and forums, the crimes have largely gone unsolved.
Now, Surrey Mounties are looking at following the lead of major U.S. cities like New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston by using gunshot detection technology.
“[It’s] something that we are considering,” said Surrey RCMP Supt. Bill Fordy.
The technique would help police pinpoint exactly where the shots occurred and even who may have fired the gun.
The systems are designed for a quick response: Camera systems armed with microphones are installed on city streets, and sensors pick up the sound of gunfire. The information is relayed in an alert to police, who can immediately dispatch resources to the exact location of where shots were fired.
The alert will also include information that can aid the police investigation, like the number of shots fired, if the shooter was on foot or in a vehicle, and which direction the shooter was moving.
The location of the gunshot is pinpointed and the camera moves to that location and captures video.
New York City introduced the technology last month, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said it would transform the way the NYPD would respond to gun violence.
“It increases the chances of catching the shooter. It increases the chances of recovering the weapon,” de Blasio told reporters.
De Blasio touted the technology for cutting down officer response times to shootings, which would in turn increase the odds of apprehending a suspect.
Surrey Mounties are keenly watching the implementation in New York City, and are hopeful the technology could be used to help collect evidence and catch those responsible in their own community.
“We are in the throes of examining all of our CCTV cameras so the infrastructure is there and the City of Surrey has the technology and our mayor and council want to do everything they can within their authority to enhance public safety,” said Supt. Fordy.
With a report from CTV Vancouver's Lisa Rossington
