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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2025
VICTORVILLE, Calif. — Building on its strategic efforts to expand public safety, the City of Victorville deployed new gunshot detection technology last month in two of its neighborhoods with the most gun-related calls for service: Brentwood/Hook and Old Town/Midtown. The acoustic system detects gunfire and triangulates its location within seconds to speed police and emergency medical response, increase criminal investigation success, and improve patient outcomes. The City of Victorville is the first city in San Bernardino County to implement this technology.
Since its deployment three weeks ago, ShotSpotter has already helped the Victorville Police Department solve three gun-related incidents that were not reported to 911. On average, less than 20 percent of gunfire incidents are reported to 911 nationwide.
“The City of Victorville is investing in advanced technologies to increase the effectiveness of our law enforcement for a safer Victorville,” said Victorville Mayor Liz Becerra. “We’re giving our public safety personnel the equipment they need to be more proactive, quicker to respond, and better able to investigate and solve crimes.”
ShotSpotter is a gunfire recognition, analysis, and alert system that can detect gunshots. It determines whether multiple weapons are involved, the types of weapons used, and pinpoints the location of the gunfire informing law enforcement’s tactical response and investigation.
“ShotSpotter is a beneficial tool that is helping our deputies solve crime quicker and take guns off the street,” said Victorville Police Chief, Captain Jerry Davenport. “Many gunshots go unreported, and the reports we do receive typically have incorrect locations, so this technology is helping us step up our game.”
The City of Victorville deployed ShotSpotter on the heels of implementing its network of 123 automatic license plate readers that are helping its deputies locate suspects and solve crimes quicker. Next, the City plans to launch a public safety drone program. The intelligence gathered through these crime-fighting technologies will be captured in the City’s planned real-time crime center.
The City entered into a professional services agreement with Sound Thinking to utilize ShotSpotter for an initial three-year period. The contract fees of $470,000 are being paid for with Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funds made available through Assembly Bill 3229 to support front-line municipal police services.
Located in Southern California at the high-point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Victorville is the leading city for both industry and retail in the High Desert region. Victorville is a growing, vibrant community that is home to more than 136,000 residents and some of the area’s largest employers. Clean air, abundant mountain vistas, family-friendly recreational activities, spectacular sunsets, and breathtaking night skies entice locals and visitors alike to fall in love with this city that is within a few hours of SoCal beaches, National Parks, mountain retreats, and other major attractions. Ontario International Airport is less than an hour away. Learn more about the City of Victorville at VictorvilleCA.gov.
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