Dallas police are pushing to integrate gunshot detection sensors, drones, surveillance cameras and automated systems to respond to reports of random gunfire within 30 seconds to two minutes in the city, officials told a Dallas City Council committee this week.
The plan comes amid ongoing efforts to reduce long response times and improve situational awareness after residents nationwide have raised concerns about slow police reactions to reports of non-injury gunfire calls.
Under the proposal, noise-based gunfire sensors placed around the city would trigger alerts that could automatically activate drones and nearby cameras, giving dispatchers and officers real-time data on where shots were fired and what’s happening on the ground.
Major Yancey Nelson, who oversees patrol operations, told the council’s Public Safety Committee that while reports of random gunfire have declined in recent years, the department still aims to tighten up how quickly it can assess and respond to those calls.
Officials did not provide a firm timeline for when the integrated system could be fully operational, and emphasized it remains in the concept and pilot phase as police and city leaders continue exploring technology and funding options.
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