LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – City leaders are turning to technology to prevent future tragedies after several New Year’s incidents involving firearms prompted concerns about public safety.
Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino has proposed a gunshot detection system that would pick up specific decibel levels and alert the Laredo Police Department (LPD) of possible illegal activity. Less than one month into the new year, several incidents involving firearms have occurred across the city.
“This would make it safer for the city. Not only for illegal shots that are fired to the air in celebrations like New Year’s,” Trevino said. “But also in illegal activity where there’s gunshots and police can be right there and take care of any situation that might be involved with crime.”
With some people too afraid to report shootings, Joe Baeza with LPD said how the technology could fill the gap to avoid tragedies like the death of Moises Jaimes, who died after being struck by a stray bullet on New Year’s Eve.
“Not only does it give you an idea of where it’s coming from, it maps you, tells you where the shot is coming from,” Baeza said. “Some people don’t report it anymore. Some people kind of turn a deaf ear to it, don’t want to become involved—they’re too afraid or intimidated, which is understandable. And so the technology will tell us.“
If approved, the system will be placed in strategic sites across the city with a growing but gradual implementation of technology to assist the LPD.
Critics of the technology worry the system may mistake other sounds for gunshots.
“Over New Year’s, there’s a lot of fireworks and gunshots. The device of shots fired technology won’t be able to differentiate between both. You would have to be guessing what’s what. So, it would take an officer to go investigate a firework,” Diego Chavez said.
However, for mothers like Mari Chavez, this technology seems like a positive change to the city.
“I do think this would help a lot and it would be really good. We could avoid unfortunate deaths like this,” Mari Chavez said.
As for Jaimes’ case, no arrests have been made at this time.
The item will be discussed at the city council meeting Jan. 20.
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