Latest news with #SoundThinking
Chicago Tribune
08-08-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora considers renewing ShotSpotter service for three years
Aurora is considering renewing its ShotSpotter service, which detects gunfire within a certain area, for the next three years. The service by SoundThinking, Inc., has been used in Aurora since it was first approved by the Aurora City Council in 2022. Aurora Deputy Police Chief Steve Stemmet recently told the Aurora City Council's Committee of the Whole that the system has proven itself over the past three years. 'With the almost immediate notification of gunfire and the exact location where it occurred, we are able to significantly decrease our response time to these events,' he said at the meeting. The three-year service agreement, which would cost the city $140,000 per year for a total cost of $420,000, now goes before the Aurora City Council at its meeting on Tuesday for final approval. The item was placed on the meeting's consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote, often without discussion. Roughly two square miles of Aurora is covered by ShotSpotter, Stemmet told the Committee of the Whole, but the coverage areas are not exactly divided into square miles. Instead, he said the areas have jagged borders, allowing the service to cover certain neighborhoods or other areas that historically have more gunfire while leaving out those that have not. While the Aurora Police Department does not publicly release where its coverage areas are, according to Stemmet, he did say that around 40% of all confirmed shootings since 2022 have taken place within those two square miles, which represents just 4% of the city's total land. 'I think that represents that we incorporated the ShotSpotter technology in the correct area based on our own research of decades of shooting incidents,' he said. Within the coverage areas, ShotSpotter uses AI to detect any gunfire of .25 caliber or higher and then triangulates its location using sensors set up throughout the area, Stemmet said. Within 60 seconds, the sound is sent to an incident review center, where people review the audio then send the information to dispatchers and directly to officers' smartphones and squad car laptops, which allows police to respond 'almost immediately,' he said. When sent the information, police officers are able to see how many shots were fired and a map of the shooting's location within an 82-foot radius so they can look for evidence of the shooting, like shell casings or a discarded firearm, along with victims or suspects, according to Stemmet. Officers can also listen to the audio themselves so they can determine what type of gunfire had taken place, which may change response and tactics, he said. Multiple instances of gunfire can also be shown on the map together, which may show officers that a shootout was happening or show the direction that a shooter was traveling in while shooting, such as in a drive-by situation, which can help locate suspects, Stemmet said. Using the ShotSpotter service, Aurora police have made 25 arrests, seized 22 firearms and recovered 749 shell casings from shootings, according to Stemmet. He said the recovered firearms and shell casings can be put into forensic databases so they can be linked to other shootings and suspects. Outside of the coverage area, when the Aurora Police Department gets calls about shots fired, people report they heard gunfire or maybe something that sounds similar then give a general area that could span several blocks, Stemmet said. Sometimes multiple people call in and report different areas, he said, which may further broaden the crime scene even more. 'This obviously makes it almost impossible for officers to locate anything, unless we have a victim calling to report damaged property or injuries,' he said. 'And that's if we get a call at all.' ShotSpotter has shown over the past three years that nearly half of all shooting instances within the coverage areas go unreported, Stemmet said. The Aurora Police Department is exploring options to possibly expand the service another square mile sometime in the future, according to Stemmet. He said that research has already been done on where exactly that extra square mile would cover. According to a staff report about the proposed three-year extension, Soundthinking is the only provider of ShotSpotter and 'the only company that has such a proprietary product,' and so the item was not competitively bid. ShotSpotter's use in other communities has been controversial, including in Chicago, where current Mayor Brandon Johnson campaigned against and later ended the city's contract for the technology over criticisms of its cost and effectiveness despite a Chicago City Council vote to keep it, according to reporting from the Chicago Tribune. The Associated Press in 2021 investigated how the technology landed a Chicago grandfather in jail after it was used as evidence to charge him with murder, with a judge later dismissing the case due to insufficient evidence. Plus, the MacArthur Justice Center has sued Chicago over its use of ShotSpotter, with the organization's webpage dedicated to information about the lawsuit questioning the system's accuracy, especially in cases that led to arrests or other police actions, and saying that it disproportionately covered areas with predominantly Black and Latino residents. When asked by Ald. Keith Larson, at-large, at the recent Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole meeting about false-positive reports, Stemmet said ShotSpotter does occasionally pick up fireworks, cars backfiring or even nail guns being used, though those reports are 'few and far between.' Police would rather respond to something that is not gunfire instead of missing gunfire when it does happen because it isn't reported, he said. Plus, people also call 911 to mistakenly report gunfire when they hear similar sounds, he said, but ShotSpotter allows police to clear out those reports in half the time or less as compared to a typical 911 call because the system gives a specific location where it believes the incident happened.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SoundThinking's (SSTI) Earnings Fall Short of Estimates Amid Increased AI Investment and Tariff Challenges
Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter began with a historically poor start but gained momentum later as tariff fears subsided and market volatility dropped precipitously. Conestoga Micro Cap Composite appreciated 15.65% net-of-fees in the second quarter but underperformed the Russell Microcap Growth Index's 20.92% return. In a highly volatile market led by high-beta and lower-quality stocks, the firm does not expect the fund to align with index performance. Please review the fund's top 5 holdings to gain insight into their key selections for 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Conestoga Capital Advisors highlighted stocks such as SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI). SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) is a public safety technology company. The one-month return of SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) was -7.09%, and its shares lost 18.26% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 25, 2025, SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) stock closed at $12.13 per share, with a market capitalization of $153.725 million. Conestoga Capital Advisors stated the following regarding SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) develops and sells a Saas based gunfire detection system to help city governments around the world detect and respond to gun violence. SSTI delivered mixed 1Q results with earnings missing the consensus estimates due to more investment in AI and a negative impact from tariffs. We still see SSTI as targeting an underpenetrated market with superior technology to help law enforcement identify gun incidents." An aerial view of a city showing the presence of public safety solutions such as Shot Spotter All in One. SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 12 hedge fund portfolios held SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) at the end of the first quarter compared to 15 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. In another article, we covered SoundThinking, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSTI) and shared Conestoga Capital Advisors' views on the company in the previous quarter. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rockford police arrest suspect after shooting in Midtown District
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Sounds of gunfire erupted in Rockford's Midtown District early Saturday morning. Rockford Police said around 1:05 a.m., the SoundThinking (formerly ShotSpotter) gunshot detection system alerted officers of a shooting in the 700 block of 7th Avenue. Investigators said a vehicle was seen leaving the area as officers arrived, and authorities were able to collect multiple shell casings from the scene. No injuries were reported. The suspect vehicle was stopped by police, and the passenger, identified as William Pouncy, 24, was in possession of a modified handgun with an automatic 'switch' device. Pouncy was arrested and charged with unlawful use of weapons, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, and no valid Firearm Owner's Identification. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
IOL News
18-05-2025
- IOL News
Significant drop in gang-related Hanover Park shooting incidents
During raids in Hanover Park, suspects were searched for drugs and weapons. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers The City of Cape Town has made significant progress in combating gang violence, with recent statistics revealing a 20% decrease in shooting incidents and a remarkable 30% drop in Hanover Park over the last quarter. Interventions spearheaded by the Safety and Security Directorate have led to the successful confiscation of 46 firearms and over 300 rounds of ammunition since January, targeting specific hotspots such as Hanover Park, Manenberg, Nyanga, and Lavender Hill. Since the implementation of advanced gunshot detection technology — known as SoundThinking (formerly ShotSpotter) — in consultation with the South African Police Services (SAPS), authorities have been better equipped to respond to incidents of gun violence rapidly and effectively. This innovative system allows law enforcement to hear and locate gunfire in real time, providing critical data to combat territorial disputes between rival gangs. Since January 2023, the system has recorded an eye-watering 24,795 rounds fired across the four targeted communities, marking a vital shift in the approach towards law enforcement in a city that has long been plagued by gun violence. A victim who was shot in the back being transported to the ambulance. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In Hanover Park alone, the number of shooting incidents has dropped by 20% from 291 in the same period last year to 224. Additionally, the total rounds fired in the area have decreased by 30% from 817 to 546, demonstrating a broader shift towards community safety. Mayoral committee member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith, said in Hanover Park, dedicated ShotSpotter deployment which consists of Metro Police, Law Enforcement, and Traffic Service. 'We're committed to tracking these cases in local courts, and our integrated approach allows us to analyse shooting patterns and ensure proactive policing in the area.' The collaboration between various law enforcement departments has proven beneficial in the fight against crime. In one recent incident, five gunmen were apprehended after responding to ShotSpotter activations and receiving vital tip-offs from residents. Smith said there are dedicated departments that track these cases at the local court to ensure the chain of custody is intact to secure better convictions, analyse shooting patterns so they can strategically deploy resources, and send out alerts. Since 2021, City Law Enforcement and Metro Police officers have confiscated 705 firearms across the four ShotSpotter areas: Manenberg, Hanover Park, Nyanga, and Lavender Hill. Of these confiscations, we have obtained 33 guilty convictions. Some of these matters are still before the courts, and others were provisionally withdrawn as SAPS await the outcomes of ballistic reports. Between January 2021 and January 2025, the City's enforcement agencies have removed 1,670 firearms from the streets of Cape Town. This includes prohibited firearms, zip guns, and replica firearms. 'We have obtained 81 guilty convictions, but many of these cases are still before the courts with 143 ballistic reports outstanding,' Smith said. 'The main misconception about ShotSpotter is that it will end gun violence. ShotSpotter is the alarm, not the sprinkler. It provides one single version of the truth about the high levels of gun violence affecting our communities. In the Safety and Security Directorate, we have integrated the data it provides to execute intelligence-driven policing. This data is shared with the SAPS. The City is also seeking legal opinion on ballistic testing and forensics to assist SAPS to hopefully address the ballistics backlog,' Smith added. IOL Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SoundThinking (SSTI) Reports Q1 Loss, Tops Revenue Estimates
SoundThinking (SSTI) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.12 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.06. This compares to loss of $0.23 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -100%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of gunfire detection systems would post a loss of $0.02 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.32, delivering a surprise of -1,500%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once. SoundThinking , which belongs to the Zacks Security and Safety Services industry, posted revenues of $28.35 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.44%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $25.41 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. SoundThinking shares have added about 21.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -0.6%. While SoundThinking has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for SoundThinking: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.08 on $27.18 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$0.24 on $111.64 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Security and Safety Services is currently in the bottom 43% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the broader Zacks Industrial Products sector, Deere (DE), has yet to report results for the quarter ended April 2025. The results are expected to be released on May 15. This agricultural equipment manufacturer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.68 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -33.4%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.9% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. Deere's revenues are expected to be $10.65 billion, down 21.8% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SoundThinking, Inc. (SSTI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Deere & Company (DE) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
