(PUEBLO, Colo.) — New technology in Pueblo is helping law enforcement address violent crime while taking guns away from criminals and off the street. It’s being done through a new gunshot detection system, called ShotSpotter, which Pueblo police began using in February of 2024.
“When that went live on February 14th of this year… so only three months, and in that time, we’ve had about 473 activations,” said Chief Chris Noeller of the Pueblo Police Department (PPD).
Since going live with ShotSpotter, PPD said the gunshot detection system has helped to get 15 handguns and five rifles off the streets. It has also led to 15 arrests and saved multiple lives.
“We were able to respond to these incidents in time to render life-saving aid to nine individuals, that believe it or not, on those nine calls, we received no calls from our citizens about the gunshots,” Chief Noeller said.
There are two ShotSpotters in Pueblo; one on the East Side and one in the Bessemer area.
The device works with acoustic sensors, which are placed on buildings or street lamps in a neighborhood. If a gun is fired anywhere in the area, multiple sensors detect and time stamp the sound to pinpoint the specific location. The alert is then immediately sent to trained acoustic experts who analyze each incident before dispatching officers to the scene in just 60 seconds.
“It is a game changer for what is possible in law enforcement,” Chief Noeller added.
ShotSpotter is not the only technology tackling violent crime in the Steel City, as a brand new, real-time crime center is set to go live in just weeks. Back in April of this year, Mayor Heather Graham said the homicide rate in Pueblo has risen by 86% when compared to the same time in 2023, and signed a mayoral order to put more officers on the street.
“It allows us to temporarily suspend the civil service requirements to allow us to recruit lateral transfers from other departments and to increase the number of police we are able to hire,” Mayor Graham said during an April press conference.
City leaders have also called on the community to pay attention to their youth, as law enforcement also noted an increase in youth-related crime. “Please help us,” Mayor Graham said. “Even if you think it couldn’t be my child or my friend, please be aware of how your oversight and care of our teens affect all of us in our community.”