ShotSpotter®, a Twice Recognized Winner in the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, having had the company’s Gunshot Detection System Nominated in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, is pleased to announce that it’s Missions Patrol Management software has also been nominated to compete.

Missions™ is AI-driven software that helps law enforcement deter crime by pro-actively directing patrol resources to specific locations that have the highest likelihood of crime that day.

ShotSpotter Missions develops risk assessments for future crimes by collecting and analyzing three sources of data:

• Historical crime data from a police jurisdiction

• Public data such as weather, transportation points, locations of parks, schools, and liquor establishments

• Exclusive ShotSpotter gunfire data

Machine learning determines the areas of highest risk and the forecasts are turned into data-driven patrol plans by shift and beat every day, and disseminated electronically to officers in the field.

(How Does it Work? See a brief summary of ShotSpotters’ Missions crime forecasting and patrol management software. Courtesy of ShotSpotter and YouTube. Posted on Jan 23, 2019.)

Missions carefully meters out recommended time spent on a directed patrol, suggests tactics by crime type, and automatically randomizes patrol locations to minimize the possibility of over or under policing any area.

ShotSpotter Missions has been proven to reduce crime by 33%.

Crime is measured over a period of 90 days in one part of a district where patrol officers use the software and compared to crime levels where officers in a neighboring part of the district do not use the software.

ShotSpotter Missions gives command staff unprecedented insight into where their patrol cars have been, the tactics officers are using, and the results they are getting.

This enables them to better understand which tactics have the highest impact on crime.

In these times of reduced police forces due to the pandemic, ShotSpotter Missions helps agencies use their existing resources most efficiently.

It enables the police to be at the right place at the right time to deter crime before it happens and keep our communities safer.

Have Questions about ShotSpotter Missions?

How can Missions™ benefit a police department?

• Police departments are constantly being asked to do more with less and ShotSpotter Missions helps agencies make their patrol resources more efficient and effective in reducing crime.

• The software provides intelligence to direct patrol and task force units in a more precise and impactful way based on daily AI-driven risk assessments for multiple crime types in their service area.

• The system also suggests specific tactics to use that are appropriate for the situation.

• Missions collects data that can be analyzed to determine the impact that these directed patrols and tactics have on crime so that they can be optimized over time.

• Specifically, Missions:

  • Detects areas at highest risk for crime on a shift-by-shift and beat-by-beat basis.

  • Protects the community by ensuring patrols are placed at the right place before crime occurs to create a deterrent effect, leading to lower crime rates.

  • Connects the tactics and dosage to their crime impact so police can continually assess and optimize their patrol strategies and create safer communities.

What crime types does it forecast?

• Part 1 Crimes: Gunfire, homicide, aggravated assault/battery, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and theft

Can it track only crime types that are of interest to me?

• Yes, crime forecasts can be configured based on those crimes of interest to a police department. For larger agencies, each district may have their own crime type priorities and that can be easily accommodated.

• A separate risk model is created for each crime type enabling the technology to have a unique configuration for each agency and their jurisdictions that use it.

What data feeds into the crime risk models?

• Missions uses historical and current ShotSpotter detected gunfire incidents, other crime incidents, calls for service, seasonality, time of day, day of week, census data, upcoming events, and environmental features (e.g., density of bars, density of vacant parcels, etc.).

• ShotSpotter Missions does not include any race, educational, or home ownership data from the census

• ShotSpotter Missions does not use any personally identifiable information about specific residents, such as whether a neighborhood has a certain number of parolees or sex offenders.

• It is focused on creating risk assessments for where and when crimes will occur, not who will commit the crime.

What kind of protections does Missions have to avoid bias or discrimination?

The company has incorporated new technology and policy protections to avoid bias or discrimination yet still yield a significant public safety benefit.

These protections include:

• Incorporating objective, non-crime data into risk models such as weather, geospatial features such as density of bars or vacant lots, event schedules, census data and ShotSpotter verified gunfire data

• Automatically randomizing patrol assignments to avoid over-saturating high-risk areas and ensure that lower risk areas receive adequate crime deterrence treatment

• The company has made a policy decision to not allow the system to create risk assessment models for crime types that are susceptible to enforcement bias.

This can occur when police presence in an area can lead to more crime being recorded in that area which in turn can create runaway feedback loops that will continually return police to the same area.

• • In addition, Missions does not use any personally identifiable information (PII) for crime forecasting.

Will Missions cause over-saturation of patrolling and cause community dissatisfaction?

• Many police agencies have either the same patrol plans for several months in a row or leave it entirely to the discretion of officers.

• This can result in patrol oversaturation in some areas.

• ShotSpotter Missions recommends patrolling only the highest risk areas for the most important crime types as deemed by the agency.

• The system intelligently meters out when those missions occur, randomizes patrol assignments and limits their duration to prevent oversaturation.

How often are the crime forecasts updated?

• The forecasts are generally updated for each shift, but this is configurable and can be updated often.

Does Missions replace human experience and intuition?

• Officers know their beats well and may be skeptical of an analytical tool that can provide further benefits.

• The product supplements officer knowledge and hunches with data that is constantly being collected and analyzed.

• It enables officers to hit the street with the added intelligence to be on the lookout for and prepare them for what they might face.

How does Missions support crime analysts?

• The system automates routine labor-intensive data input and analytical tasks that crime analysts would typically spend hours on.

• This creates time for higher value-added activities like assisting with investigations and developing effective strategies to address crime. 

• Analysts or other authorized users can add or suppress directed patrols based on new events or intelligence or swings in patrol capacity.

What kind of tactical advice does the product have?

• The product proactively recommends tactics to officers once they arrive at the mission area such as foot patrol, talking to business owners, knocking on doors, etc.

• These tactics are based on the crime type, other agency best practices and the local agency’s preferences.

• The system also tracks the tactics so they can be analyzed and correlated to the impact on crime and help optimize operational practices.

Why choose ShotSpotter Missions?

• Missions uniquely uses combines historical crime data with non-crime data such as calls for service, seasonality, time of day, day of week, census data, upcoming events, and environmental features.

• This provides more precise and accurate crime risk assessments than standard hotspot mapping and competitive products and avoids enforcement bias.

• Missions exclusively uses real-time ShotSpotter gunfire data to create and continuously update gunfire forecasts makes risk assessments more comprehensive and accurate since only 20% of gunfire is reported by citizens

• The system is highly flexible and can configure to an agency’s needs such as choosing which crime types to focus on, weighting those crime types relative to each other, which tactics to use and track.

• ShotSpotter has the resources and commitment to ensure your use of Missions is a success for your department and community.

• We have a team of data scientists, engineers, customer success and support team members to ensure your satisfaction.

ShotSpotter Returns to Compete in Third ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

American Security Today is pleased to announce that Deann Criswell, the NYC Emergency Management Commissioner will deliver the keynote address at the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon Banquet in New York City.

90% of ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners return to compete in the Annual ‘ASTORS‘ Homeland Security Awards Program, and 100% of ‘ASTORS’ Sponsors have returned year to year to reap the benefits of their participation in the industry’s largest and most comprehensive Annual Awards Program.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Access Control/ Identification	Personal/Protective Equipment	Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism
Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System	Interagency Interdiction Operation	Cloud Computing/Storage Solution
Facial/IRIS Recognition	Body Worn Video Product	Cyber Security
Video Surveillance/VMS	Mobile Technology	Anti-Malware
Audio Analytics	Disaster Preparedness	ID Management
Thermal/Infrared Camera	Mass Notification System	Fire & Safety
Metal/Weapon Detection	Rescue Operations	Critical Infrastructure
License Plate Recognition	Detection Products	And Many Others!

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

With the unprecedented occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the safety and security industries has realized the need to increase innovations to address the daily growing challenges.

As such AST aims to make sure these firms and professionals are reflected in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, so we’d like to encourage you to submit appropriate categories recommendations and include COVID-19 Frontline Professionals in your Nominations to see that these Professionals, Facilities, and Vendors receive the Recognition they Deserve!

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program surpassed expectations with a record number of nominations received from industry leaders and government agencies, and drew over 200 attendees to the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Banquet – an exclusive gourmet luncheon and networking opportunity which filled to capacity, before having to turn away late registrants.

The event featured an impassioned and compelling keynote address by William J. Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) twice, the Boston Police Department (BPD), and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as he walked attendees through 50 years of American policing history, the impacts on the communities, and the evolution of critical communication capabilities in our post 9/11 landscape.

Commissioner Bratton, one of the world’s most respected and trusted experts on risk and security issues and Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk a global advisory firm, was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety.

Why the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?

American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’

Over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included: 

• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
• United States Marine Corps
• The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• United States Postal Inspection Service
• DHS S&T 
• United States Marshals Service (USMS)
• The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police (PAPD)
• The Department of Justice (DOJ)
• The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (NYS DHSES)
• United States Border Patrol
• AlertMedia, Ameristar Perimeter Security, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Bellevue University, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., CornellCookson, Drone Aviation, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global, IPVideo Corp., Konica Minolta Business Solutions, LenelS2, ManTech, Regroup Mass Notifications, SafeLogic, SolarWinds, Senstar, ShotSpotter, Smiths Detection, TCOM LP, Trackforce, Verint, and More!

From innovative Military Cyber Programs, to Local, State and Federal Public Safety and Emergency Management Initiatives, New Physical and IT Products and Services, and Security Professional, Threat Assessment, Emergency Preparedness, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Education and Training Opportunities – Join your ‘ASTORS’ Award-Winning Peers and Receive the Recognition You Deserve!

Excellence in Public Safety and Government Security Award Nominations are also encouraged, such as those 2019 Honored Winners which includes the DEA, U.S. Marine Corps, DHS S&T, Federal Protective Service, DHS S&T NUSTL, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, The Port Authority of NY/NJ, and the NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services.

Individuals are also encouraged to be nominated for Government Excellence in Public Safety and Homeland Security such as last years widely respected recipients.

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more about the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please go to the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Championship Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2019 ‘A Year in Review’.

The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually and includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.

It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2019 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

ShotSpotter Takes Home the Gold in 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

ShotSpotter

• Best Gunshot Detection System

  • ShotSpotter

• ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection & Alert System

• ShotSpotter acoustic sensors are strategically placed in a coverage area and detect shots fired. Audio triangulation pinpoints gunfire location and machine-learning algorithms analyze the sound.

• Likely gunshots are transmitted to the Incident Review Center for evaluation and confirmed gunshots are published within seconds

• Alert notifications are sent to dispatch centers, patrol car MDTs and officer smartphones.

(Learn More about ShotSpotter’s Gunshot Detection System and take a look within the ShotSpotter Incident Review Center. Courtesy of ShotSpotter and YouTube.)

ShotSpotter was also recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program.

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• Provides named sources
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ShotSpotter Detects Over 140K US Gunfire Incidents in 2019