Concerns over the effectiveness of gunshot detection technology took center stage at the Surveillance Advisory Board's special meeting in Vallejo on July 24, 2025. Board members discussed the limitations of the Raven technology used to monitor gun violence, emphasizing the need for caution in interpreting its data.

One key point raised was the potential bias in the system's deployment. Members noted that the technology is strategically placed in areas perceived to have higher gun violence, which could skew the data and lead to misleading conclusions about overall safety in the city. "It's not a good measure of the safety of the system," one member cautioned, highlighting that the data collected is not representative of the entire city.

The discussion also revealed that there are sections of Vallejo without Raven technology, meaning incidents occurring in those areas would go unreported. This limitation raises concerns about the accuracy of the data and the ability to assess true gun violence levels across the city.

Additionally, the board addressed the issue of false positives, where alerts are triggered but no evidence of gunfire is found upon police arrival. Officers reported instances where they responded to alerts only to find no shell casings or victims, raising questions about the reliability of the alerts and their impact on community trust.

As the meeting concluded, the board underscored the importance of understanding the limitations of gunshot detection technology and the need for a comprehensive approach to public safety that considers all areas of the city. The discussions set the stage for future evaluations of the technology's effectiveness and its role in enhancing community safety.