Long Beach police to test gunfire detection system

Long Beach police will be using live gunfire Friday night to test its new ShotSpotter gunfire recognition program. Police will be testing gunfire between 7 and 10 p.m. throughout the city, but officials said no bullets will be fired into the air and there is no danger to the public.

The city is adding the ShotSpotter program using a $500,000 grant from Nassau County to track and deter shootings. The audio sensors mounted on poles will report all gunshots fired through the city and relay information to police to respond.

Police are testing the system and sensor calibrations with controlled gunshots before it becomes active to track actual shootings. Police will be on site at multiple test locations during the operation.