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Methuen police hope gunshot detection system can save innocent lives

METHUEN, Mass. – It might not look like much, but police hope the Guardian Indoor Gunshot Detection system installed at a Methuen school can save innocent lives in the event of a shooting.

Throughout the building, 60 sensors work together to locate the exact position of gunfire and instantly alert police.

“The sensor itself is looking for an acoustic, as well an infrared signature. Those two marry up, match and the sensor realizes that it’s gunfire,” Daniel Michelinie said. “The reality is, we are providing real time notification. All of these, the one major component that will make a difference, is time. Time to target.”

The system is specifically designed to give police immediate, exact information rather than having them show up to a potential shooting without full knowledge of the situation.

“We train so much, it’s fast can we get there. If we don’t know what happened, for seven, eight, nine or 10 minutes, how many people are being killed and injured in that time,” Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said.

Haverhill also uses the Guardian system, which can cost a school department anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000. The company said other local distracts are planning to install the system as well once government funding becomes available.

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