Resident of St. Croix may be surprised by the sound of gunfire Monday, but the sound is coming from the V.I. Police, as the department conducts live-fire testing for the ShotSpotter gunshot detection service.
For safety and security reasons, the Department did not divulge the time or location of the live-fire tests.
The purpose of the test is to verify all ShotSpotter systems are operating as expected and guide any final adjustments before activating the service, the police said in a news release. The ShotSpotter service is not considered live and operational until the successful completion of the live fire test.
VIPD officers will be onsite at all test locations to ensure conditions for testing are safe. The controlled tests will consist of a sequence of gunshots fired at close range into a bullet trap. No bullets were to be fired into the air.
The VIPD encouraged residents to call 911 if they have any concerns during the live-fire testing.
