Reporting gunshots: prevalence, correlates, and obstacles to calling the police

Abstract

ABSTRACT Accurately documenting where and when firearms are discharged is a critical first step in gun violence prevention. Many cities rely on police calls for service as their primary source for this information. Recent studies find, however, that citizens underreport gunshots. This has led some communities to invest in gunshot detection technology (GDT) as an alternative data source. GDT remains an expensive and often controversial solution with limited evidence for long-term benefits. This underscores the need for additional research on third-party reporting of gunshots. The current study, conducted in Portland Oregon, surveyed 1,240 residents in 23 neighborhoods with above-average firearm discharges. Analyses confirm that gunshots are vastly underreported. Multivariate logistic regressions found that respondents with higher trust in the police and those worried about gun violence were more likely to call 911 when they heard gunfire. Obstacles to reporting include ambiguity regarding the nature of the sound, diffusion of responsibility, and the perceived hassle of dealing with the local emergency dispatch system. Implications for surveilling gun violence are discussed.