Kansas City's Police Chief says he wants to expand a gunfire detection program to four other regions of the city following positive data from the first area.
Police Chief Daryl Forte has run the Shot Spot program for eight months and says it has reduced aggravated assaults 24.6% in the 3.5 square mile area. Forte has never clearly defined the district for what he says are intelligence reasons.
Forte has asked Congressman Emanuel Cleaver to take the case to federal agencies to ask for funding beyond the $720,000 to set up and maintain the 5 year program.
Cleaver says he thinks it can be done.
"In spite of the fact we haven’t had a budget for 4 years, there still are departments that will be spending federal dollars, discretionary dollars, and so I think we make a great case here in Kansas City that would put us in a good spot to get the money,” says Cleaver.
Forte displayed a table top covered with illegal guns he said have been confiscated because of Shot Spot. He said people have become more likely to call police when they hear shots fired because officers appear and make arrests.
