Police present Flock Safety gunshot detection and drone trial; council approves 9‑day test

The Lawrence Police Department presented an informational item about a proposed Flock Safety audio gunshot detection system and a Flock drone first‑responder (DFR) program.

Salman Darr, introduced in the record as a sergeant assigned to the department’s IT unit, outlined a three‑phase rollout: mapping sensor locations with Flock staff, permitting and site surveys in a week of January work, and on‑site installation leading to a targeted full launch in March 2026 and a 90‑day performance period thereafter. He said the vendor’s trial data showed a clearance figure and that earlier activations led to incident reports and arrests: "11 resulting in incident reports and 7 of those solved, a 64% clearance rate," he said.

Darr compared costs to the city’s existing system. The presentation recorded an approximate current ShotSpotter subscription cost of $79,500 per year for one square mile; he said Flock’s audio‑detection offering for the same coverage was approximately $35,000 per year. Darr also noted the department already uses other Flock products for license‑plate reading and has 35 LPR devices on poles.

Councilors requested a brief executive summary and an in‑person demonstration of the devices. Several members asked what difference broader coverage would have made in recent shootings and emphasized the need for transparency about false activations and operational limitations; the presenter said the trial would help answer those questions.

On a motion, the council voted to approve a 9‑day trial period for both the audio detection and the DFR program so the city can evaluate performance before any funding commitment. The department indicated it would return with cost analyses and next steps if the trial meets expectations.