Drs. Stephanie Kent and Rachel Lovell, professors in the Criminology Research Center at Cleveland State University’s (CSU) Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, released their co-authored 185-page report on Cleveland Police’s use of ShotSpotter and presented their findings at Cleveland City Council’s Public Safety Committee. The meeting, which was covered in this article by Signal Cleveland, debated the effectiveness of the ShotSpotter technology.

ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system Cleveland Police have used to respond to gunfire over a 13 square-mile section of the city. Research for the report included analyzing 87,000 ShotSpotter alerts, observing how officers used the technology in practice and conducting hundreds of surveys of police and city residents.

The report did shed light on the staffing shortage facing Cleveland Police, which has resulted in increased response times for other crimes. ShotSpotter was found to be an effective tool, but difficult to use well due to the police force shrinking over time. The report noted that Cleveland Police lost more officers between 2019 and 2024 than any other comparably sized department.

“The staffing shortage prevents officers from using the vast majority of functions offered by ShotSpotter effectively,” Drs. Kent and Lovell wrote in their report. “We found that nearly every potential benefit of ShotSpotter was severely limited by a dearth in human resources.”

The ShotSpotter report from Drs. Kent and Lovell also delved into response time for other crimes and whether gunshot detection alerts resulted in arrests.

A full breakdown of the council hearing, along with additional context from Drs. Kent and Lovell, is available in coverage from Signal Cleveland.

The findings contribute valuable, data-informed analysis to ongoing policy discussions about public safety investments, resource allocation, and evidence-based policing strategies. By providing policymakers with objective research and actionable insights, this work helps guide decisions that impact community well-being, public budgets, and long-term strategies to reduce violence and improve response outcomes.

The report in its entirety, Evaluation of the Cleveland Division of Police’s Implementation of ShotSpotter by Drs. Kent and Lovell, can be read here.