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Rock Island Today
By the People, for the People
Rock Island Approves Gunshot Detection Pilot Program
New audio sensors aim to help police respond faster to gun violence incidents.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:52am
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A new gunshot detection system aims to help Rock Island police respond faster to incidents of gun violence in the city.Rock Island TodayThe Rock Island City Council has approved a one-year pilot program for the Raven Acoustic Gunshot Detection System, a series of audio sensors that will help the police department locate the source of gunfire more quickly. The system will be focused on a high-crime area of the city, with the goal of improving response times and potentially identifying suspects or victims faster.
Why it matters
Gunfire incidents are a major public safety concern in Rock Island, with 20% of such calls going unlocated by police. The new gunshot detection technology aims to address this issue by providing an automated alert system that can pinpoint the origin of gunshots, allowing officers to respond more rapidly and potentially make arrests or provide medical aid.
The details
The Raven system uses acoustic sensors to pick up the distinct audio signatures of gunfire and record five-second clips, which are then analyzed to confirm if the sound was actually a gunshot. The pilot program will be centered on a high-crime area of 20th Street from 5th to 18th Avenue, where the majority of gunfire incidents occur in the city. The $27,000 cost for the one-year pilot will be covered by a federal grant.
- The Rock Island City Council approved the gunshot detection pilot program on Monday night.
- The one-year pilot program is set to begin immediately.
The players
Tim McCloud
Rock Island Police Chief, who says the new technology will help officers respond more quickly to gunfire incidents and potentially locate victims or suspects faster.
Flock
The company that owns the Raven Acoustic Gunshot Detection System, which Rock Island will be piloting for one year.
What they’re saying
“This way, we don't have to rely on someone's 911 call that may even be several minutes afterward. We can get down there and hopefully find maybe a suspect vehicle quicker. Or potentially if someone's injured, we can locate them a lot quicker as well.”
— Tim McCloud, Rock Island Police Chief
“It's not searching other ambient sounds. It's not listening for voices, it's not listening for music or anything else out there. It's specifically triggered by the acoustic signatures of gunshots.”
— Tim McCloud, Rock Island Police Chief
What’s next
If the one-year pilot program is successful, the Rock Island Police Department plans to consider expanding the gunshot detection system to additional areas of the city.
The takeaway
The new gunshot detection technology in Rock Island aims to improve public safety by helping police respond more quickly to gun violence incidents, potentially leading to faster apprehension of suspects or provision of medical aid to victims. The pilot program represents an innovative approach to addressing a persistent community challenge.
