CHARLOTTE -- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will not renew its contract for ShotSpotter technology.
The acoustical sensors detect gunfire, and then send officers out to those shooting scenes. The crime-fighting system was placed in Uptown, the Grier Heights neighborhood, and the Farm Pond Road area a few years ago.
CMPD says the sensors worked, but they didn't produce enough results to justify spending $180,000 a year on the ShotSpotter subscription.
"There were very few circumstances where we actually encountered the person who pulled the trigger," said Major Steve Willis with CMPD. "
"We feel like we can serve our citizens better by using that money on other proven products we've seen greater success with."
CMPD isn't sure exactly where the money used to operate ShotSpotter will now be spent, but says it will be put to good use, likely going towards the real-time crime center, body cameras, or other initiatives.