Washington, D.C.  - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the Saginaw Police Department would receive $200,000 in federal aid to help purchase gunfire detection technology.  The funds were appropriated by the House in the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 bill at the request of Congressman Kildee.  

“I am committed to providing law enforcement officials with the tools they need to protect the community and themselves,” said Kildee.  “Gunfire detection technology has proven to be effective in reducing gun crime and in protecting police officers.”

Violent crime nationwide has risen for the second straight year.  The City of Saginaw has endured 20 homicides and 1,077 weapons-related assaults in the past year.  Law enforcement agencies that have implemented similar gunfire detection technology have seen violent crime rates fall by 30%, gunfire arrests increase by half and gunfire incidents drop dramatically, by as much as 60-80%.

The technology would utilize networked sensors installed on buildings and telephone poles to detect and locate gunfire.  Sensors will be installed in an area that covers four square miles and can differentiate between fireworks, backfiring cars and other noises that could be mistaken for gunfire.  Gunfire detection has the potential to help decrease police response time, locate forensic evidence and warn police officers of the presence of firearms in the vicinity.

Federal funding for the Saginaw Police Department must be approved by the Senate and the President to be appropriated.