Could ShotSpotter's success in Camden transfer to Millville?

ShotSpotter detects gunfire and relays the location of the shooting to police in real time.

MILLVILLE -- The ability to pinpoint exactly a gunshot occurs the moment after the bullet is fired -- it's a tantalizing proposal that is already employed in cities across the nation.

Millville may join the likes of Camden in employing ShotSpotter technology, but the first step is getting the grant money to pursue the initiative. Millville is looking into Shotspotter at the behest of its residents.

"It works," said Timothy Carty, a Millville resident lobbying for the use of ShotSpotter. "It's proven that it's working in other cities that are using it."

Carty began researching ShotSpotter on his own and has proselytized about it during Millville City Commission meetings for the past several months. He started his research after a rash of shootings occurred in Millville last summer. Ever since he first brought it up to the city, he's been getting supports from the public.

"It's going to reduce the gun violence and random shootings," Carty said. "In order to turn the city around we have to start somewhere and it'll be a perfect thing."

ShotSpotter is a private gunfire-detection company. Once contracted by a city, ShotSpotter will set up sensors throughout a city. The sensors detect gunfire, pinpoint exactly where the gunshot occurs and gives that data to police.

According to Millville Police Department, last year there were 150 calls for shots fired and 39 of those cases were confirmed -- meaning evidence was found at the scene indicating a gun was fired.

So far this year, Millville police have had 55 total calls for gunshots and 20 of those cases were confirmed.

"It's a good tool and, with Millville residents we are very thankful that when they hear shots they call us," said Chief Jody Farabella. "This will make our reaction time much quicker."

According to Farabella, Millville Police Department is working with Millville Housing Authority to apply for a grant that will help pay for the service.

If Millville is awarded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Emergency Safety and Security Grant, it will go toward paying for Shotspotter.

Millville Housing Authority applied for the grant toward the end of April, asking for $238,000. The $238,000 comes from an estimate by Shotspotter for Millville. The grant does not require any matching funds but is highly competitive. Out of the 4,000 housing authorities that applied for the grant nationwide in 2015, only 29 authorities received funding -- totaling $6 million in grants, according to Heather Santoro, director of business development for Millville Housing Authority.

Millville Housing Authority has applied for the grant before and has yet to be approved. The authority hopes to have better luck this time because of the benefits ShotSpotter could have for Millville.

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"From what we understand, it will be good for Millville housing and the entire community," said Paul Dice, executive director for Millville Housing Authority. "I was especially interested in the opinion of local law enforcement and they were very supportive of this system. I am going to take my lead from them. They are the professionals and my understanding from talking to them and from hearing about the product, I think everyone could benefit from this."

Camden City has benefited from ShotSpotter since 2013 and expanded ShotSpotter to cover the entire city in 2015.

"It's a phenomenal tool -- not only for the investigative part of it but also for the proactiveness," said Captain Gabriel Camacho of Camden County Police Department.

ShotSpotter almost seems like something out of science fiction, he Camacho explained.

Ever since Camden began using Shotspotter, police have been able to detect gunfire even when no one was around to report it. ShotSpotter has also saved lives and has acted as a deterrent for shooting.

The feedback for Camden's use of ShotSpotter so far has been positive, according to Camacho.

"It brings a little more reassurance to that community that law enforcement does know what is going on in that area and will respond to it," the captain said.

While Millville waits to hear if it will receive grant money, Carty plans on continuing the conversation over whether to sign up for ShotSpotter or not.

According to Carty, it's just what Millville needs to curb violence and keep people safe.

"We shouldn't have to worry about anyone getting shot by a stray bullet or kids sleeping at night," Carty said. "It's a public health crisis."

A public presentation for ShotSpotter is scheduled for May 31 at 7 p.m. at the Phenom Factory on 8th Street in Millville.