Hartford and Louisville Selected to Test Innovative Proposals Using ShotSpotter in 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge

Hartford to Tackle Childhood Trauma Caused by Gun Violence Louisville to Use Drones to Enhance Crime Scene Investigations

NEWARK, Calif., March 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ShotSpotter, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI), the leader in gunshot detection solutions that help law enforcement officers and security personnel identify, locate and deter gun violence, today announced that it was proud to learn that Hartford, CT and Louisville, KY had been selected as two of 35 Champion Cities in the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge competition for their proposals to use ShotSpotter, along with other innovative technologies and approaches, to make their cities safer. The Champion Cities will now begin a six-month testing phase where they will conduct public prototypes of their ideas. In October, five winners will be selected from the 35 Champion Cities.

Hartford’s proposal involves using ShotSpotter real-time alerts to tackle childhood trauma brought on by gun violence. Children who witness gun violence experience dangerous levels of traumatic stress, yet many who could benefit from treatment are never referred for diagnosis. Hartford, a ShotSpotter customer since 2013 with more than 11 square miles of coverage, plans to use ShotSpotter data in conjunction with other data sources to identify youth who have been exposed to gun violence, better deliver critical pediatric therapy services, and alert teachers about those who have experienced trauma. Groups such as Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA and the Salvation Army also plan to participate in the initiative.

Louisville’s proposal focuses on deploying Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) to help police officers better respond to and investigate criminal gunfire – particularly since the city’s homicide rate has recently spiked. Louisville’s proposal is to build on a recently installed ShotSpotter gunshot detection system (covering six square miles) to dispatch UAVs in just seconds after shots are first detected. The goal of this program is to enable first responders to capture critical evidence from the crime scene to aid investigations.

“More than 85 cities in the U.S. use ShotSpotter to help reduce gun violence and make their cities safer,” said Ralph Clark, president and CEO of ShotSpotter. “We are honored to be part of the innovative solutions put forth by the cities of Louisville and Hartford and fully support their efforts to use ShotSpotter in these valuable ways.”

“Louisville is considered one of the most innovative cities in the nation because of our creative, entrepreneurial spirit,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Our proposal to integrate drones with ShotSpotter, part of our response to a community-wide challenge of reducing violence, is a great example. We're proud to break new ground that can offer lessons to other cities, and we're glad to have ShotSpotter as a partner.” 

“In too many communities around the country, young people who are exposed to the trauma of gun violence in their neighborhoods never get the support, treatment, or even the acknowledgement that they need,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. “Our proposal is designed to help provide timely support and assistance to kids exposed to gun violence in our own community. Our team is looking forward to developing the proposal further, in partnership with all of our stakeholders, including Hartford Public Schools, the Hartford Police Department, and the Village for Families and Children.”

The 35 Champion Cities rose to the top of a competitive pool of more than 320 applications by performing the best against four key criteria: Their idea’s vision, potential for impact, implementation plan, and potential to spread to other cities. A prestigious selection committee co-chaired by Former Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Former Xerox Chairman & CEO Ursula Burns, and comprised of distinguished policy experts, artists, academics, business executives, and social innovation leaders, assessed the applications.

About ShotSpotter, Inc.
ShotSpotter is the leader in gunshot detection solutions that help law enforcement officers and security personnel identify, locate and deter gun violence. ShotSpotter is based in Newark, California and offers its solutions on a SaaS-based subscription model to customers around the world, with current customers located in the United States and South Africa.

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LEinbinder@ShotSpotter.com

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