Crime & Safety
UWS Police Precinct Finds Itself At Center Of ShotSpotter Controversy
New emails are raising the question of how much interaction there is between NYPD and a technology that allows officers to listen from afar.
UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — An Upper West Side precinct finds itself at the center of a controversy between the New York City Police Department and a technology that allows officers to listen into locations remotely.
Emails newly obtained by The Legal Aid Society advocates suggest that NYPD officers and precincts worked together with ShotSpotter to determine locations for the gunshot detection system's listening devices.
ShotSpotter has devices placed around the city that can let officers listen for gunshot-like sounds and transmit real-time information to authorities. The system has a policy stating it does not share the precise sensor locations with law enforcement, which was adopted in part over concerns that police could use it to listen in on conversations.
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This is where the Upper West Side's 24th Precinct comes into the picture.
"Below are the final 6 sites that I am working on and trying to get on board," a ShotSpotter employee wrote in a June 2021 email — with the subject line "24th Precinct" — to two high-level NYPD officers.
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The email mentions that the representative struggled to get the buildings to agree to the new technology.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.
In another email revealed by Legal Aid, a ShotSpotter representative wrote to a 24th Precinct officer, "I hope a call from you on behalf of the 24th PCT can help."
The emails don't reveal any exact addresses, but do reference six buildings on Riverside Drive.
One of the emails from May 2021 also mentions "This project will be deployed for the 24th PCT."
The 24th Precinct stretches from 86th to 110th Street from Riverside Drive to Central Park West.
Legal Aid argues that the revealed emails show a violation of ShotSpotter's privacy policy.
The emails have no indication of NYPD using the technology to listen into conversations, or give any clues on why the Riverside Drive buildings were being discussed.
You can check out the emails for yourself — here.
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