The Sparks City Council has reinforced its commitment to using advanced technology for public safety by approving a renewed agreement with SoundThinking Inc., the company formerly known as ShotSpotter. This decision was made at a council meeting on February 23, ensuring the continuation of gunshot detection services in Sparks until 2029 under a contract valued at $1.19 million.
Originally implemented as a trial, the Sparks Police Department’s partnership with SoundThinking Inc. has now been extended for another three years. Chief of Police Chris Crawforth emphasized the technology’s critical role during the meeting, stating, “It helps us get to victims sooner, to clear the area, make it safer for our partners in the fire and EMS to come in.”
Chief Crawforth presented a dashboard of statistics from the past 32 months, illustrating the technology’s impact on solving crimes in the area.
Despite its benefits, some citizens expressed reservations about the technology. Cindy Martinez, a local resident, criticized the presentation for allegedly providing inaccurate data, particularly concerning the omission of false alarms that the technology might produce.
Another resident, Christian D. Brown, voiced a broader concern regarding privacy, saying, “I don’t want us to keep adding more and more mass surveillance to everything around here, you know, with Flock, with ring cameras, with all this stuff that just keeps adding on.”
In contrast, Mayor Ed Lawson expressed strong support for the initiative, remarking, “Working backward from casings to gun, I think it’s pretty smart policing.” The use of gunshot detection technology will continue as part of the police department’s efforts to enhance public safety.
