Manchester, NH – On Friday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined the Manchester Police Department for a ride-along with Lieutenant Matthew Barter. Congressman Pappas and Lt. Barter discussed the department’s plans to deploy gunshot recognition technology, walked a foot patrol, and discussed community policing and how Congress can continue to support our communities in fighting the ongoing addiction crisis.
Earlier this month, Pappas announced the delivery of $300,000 for the Manchester Police Department to fund the acquisition and implementation of gunshot recognition technology. These funds were secured by Pappas in a legislative package to fund the government through fiscal year 2022.
“I’m grateful for the work our police officers do day in and day out to ensure the safety of our communities,” said Congressman Pappas. “I also want to thank Lieutenant Barter for taking time out of his day to share what his work looks like on a daily basis and discuss how the Manchester Police Department is moving forward to implement gunshot recognition technology that will address the problem of unreported shootings in Manchester. I remain committed to delivering additional funding and resources to the Manchester Police Department and all our departments to keep our officers and our communities safe. ”
“Friday’s patrol was really an opportunity to show how firsthand the benefits Manchester will see from the implementation of gunshot recognition technology. One perfect use case is a property where we got a call about two weeks ago from the property owner, about an incident that happened in January. There was not one call about it at the time, and by the time it was reported the gun casings left at the scene had been thrown out, making it that much harder for us to pursue the case,” said Lt. Barter. “We even responded to a gunshot call on Friday that turned out to just be a report of a car backfiring. This new technology will help to confirm very quickly whether gunshots have actually been reported.”
“This technology will help Manchester Police continue to focus our efforts to reduce gun violence in the City,” said Manchester Chief of Police Allen Aldenberg. “The ability to receive notifications of gunfire within 60 seconds is a game changer and will assist in our strategy to focus on the right places and right people. We appreciate the assistance of Congressman Pappas’s office in securing this funding as well as providing the foundation for a community centered, transparent approach to this technology adoption.”
Manchester Police has been working with community partners to reduce gun violence in the city through data-driven and evidence-based approaches. Part of this work found that many reported shootings are reported to police long after the actual shooting occurred, presenting significant issues in investigating these crimes. The purchase and implementation of gunshot recognition technology will alert police to the exact location of the gunfire within 60 seconds, enabling a faster response to these violent crimes. This will assist law enforcement in apprehending suspects, rendering aid to victims, and locating critical evidence.