Over a dozen early morning ShotSpotter activations around Newark stretched police manpower thin as residents setoff fireworks that resembled shots fired incidents.
Police in several wards responded to reports of shots fired that rang out several neighborhoods, but officials said in most incidents, individuals set fireworks in the area to celebrate the new year.
Police said they did find shell casings in the 200 block of North 5th Street around 1:10 a.m. after residents dialed 911 when hearing several gun blasts.
A further search of the area indicated no victims, according to police.
ShotSpotter President & CEO Ralph Clark said the following in a statement:
“We developed machine algorithms that use classification work that again distinguish things that are clearly gunshots. The system is designed to look at the very specific electronic signature, almost like an EKG or a heart meter.”
According to published reports, ShotSpotter technology covers areas in every ward and section of the city. These sensors can pick up the sounds of gunfire at the exact location it occurs.
It then sends alerts directly to police communications headquarters. But, on holidays like the 4th of July and New Years', loud explosions from illegal fireworks appear to clog up the system.
In Newark, if there’s an instance where the sound picked up by ShotSpotter is questionable, officers will always respond and initiate an investigation, such as during the early morning hours.