Suffolk Police are seeing successes big and small with their gunshot detection system

SUFFOLK, Va. – News 3 continues with more information about the gunshot detection system being used in the city of Suffolk.

The system can, among other things, send notifications to police officers on their mobile phones.

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“This is a map that will be available in the app,” said Maj. Jesse Epperson of the Suffolk Police Department, describing how the app, tied to the city’s gunshot detection system, works.

When shots are detected in Suffolk, technology can quickly alert police.

“We have seen small and big successes,” Epperson explained.

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RAVEN gunshot detection system sends an alert to an app on police officers’ cell phones, showing them where the shots were fired.

Three detection devices must detect the gunshot to determine the location.

From October 25, the city had devices that covered the city center and the northern part of the city.

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“For us, it was very accurate, especially in detecting a single gunshot,” Epperson said.

On October 21, thanks to the alarm, officers were able to quickly respond to Linden Ave.

They found 30-year-old Frenando Holland dead from a gunshot wound, a woman, whom police did not name, who had been shot, and two crying children.

The woman was taken to hospital. It was unclear where the children went.

Police said Holland and the woman were in a relationship, but did not specify what kind.

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“I ended up talking to my mom about possibly getting some security cameras,” said neighbor Brandon Cook

Cook lives across the street from where police say Holland shot the woman and then turned the gun on himself.

He’s glad the police have a gunshot detection system.

“It really gives me some peace of mind because it’s usually a pretty quiet area,” Cook said.

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Police use crime data to determine where in the city to place detection devices. They can be transferred by working with the company that supplies them.

“We would coordinate with them. They would have to go through the appropriate permitting process. They would move it to where it needed to be and adjust it to our needs,” Epperson said.

In addition to detecting and locating gunshots, the system can also help police determine where shots did not take place.

Maintaining the system costs money, but police believe it is money well spent and are working to expand coverage.

“Ultimately, when we have systems that help us solve crimes, respond quickly to calls, help victims and apprehend perpetrators, it’s important for us to have access to those tools,” Epperson said.

As of October 25, the shooting was still under investigation. If you have any information please contact Suffolk Police.