Federal Investigations​: Going Beyond Gunshot Detection

Federal investigations are increasingly complex in today’s interconnected world. Cross-jurisdictional cases, mounting digital evidence, and the rise in automatic weapons demand more sophisticated investigative approaches. In a recent webinar, two former ATF executives, Tom Chittum, SVP of Forensic Services and Fred Milanowski, Director of ShotSpotter Solutions at SoundThinking shared their firsthand experience with technologies that are enhancing federal investigations.

ShotSpotter for Advanced Gunshot Detection in Federal Investigations

With less than 20% of gunfire incidents reported to police, agencies  conducting federal investigations face a significant challenge in tracking and responding to gun-related crimes. While traditional methods still play a role, more precise tools are needed to build strong cases. ShotSpotter acoustic gunshot detection has emerged as a valuable tool for federal investigations, from providing evidence for RICO cases to supporting a wide range of firearms-related prosecutions.

Tom Chittum, former Acting Deputy Director of ATF, highlighted how ShotSpotter’s sophisticated capabilities surpassed his expectations. The system can distinguish between semi-automatic and automatic weapons and detect if a shooter is moving, their direction, and speed— tactical insights for responding officers. In one striking example, the system detected 35 incidents of machine gun fire totaling 255 rounds in just one week within a major urban area—critical intelligence for federal firearms investigations.

The impact on evidence collection is equally impressive. Shell casing recovery rates have been shown to jump from 50% to 89% in homicide cases where ShotSpotter is deployed. This significant improvement translates directly to stronger federal cases, with SoundThinking’s experts having testified in over 350 cases across 25 states.

CrimeTracer for Cross-Jurisdictional Federal Investigations

Federal investigators know the frustration of hitting jurisdictional walls during investigations. CrimeTracer eliminates these barriers by providing access to over 1 billion records from more than 2,500 agencies. Much like AFIS for fingerprints or CODIS for DNA, CrimeTracer serves as a comprehensive database for investigative data. The system’s machine learning capabilities can even analyze narrative portions of police reports, uncovering crucial details like nicknames and tattoo descriptions that traditional systems might miss.

A case from Cobb County demonstrates the system’s effectiveness. Investigators had reached a dead end in a 2019 homicide case after apprehending only one of two suspects. A year later, a phone number led them to run a CrimeTracer search, revealing that the second suspect—the driver—had filed a report about the vehicle in Los Angeles just five days after the murder. This cross-country connection led to a successful prosecution of both individuals.

CaseBuilder for Digital Evidence Management in Federal Investigations

The surge in digital evidence has become one of federal investigators’  biggest challenges. CaseBuilder provides a cloud-based system that tracks investigation progress and manages all forms of collected evidence, including lab results, video, and investigative reports. Now available in a certified cloud.gov environment, the system is particularly suited for complex federal investigations.

Fred Milanowski, former Special Agent in Charge of ATF Houston, pointed to the Austin bombing case as a prime example. Over 19 days, six bombs killed two people and injured five others. “We had thousands of hours of video. We had dozens of phone dumps and computer dumps,” Milanowski explained. He noted that traditionally, “all that digital evidence had to be duplicated at the end of the investigation and put on an external hard drive and brought over to the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

CaseBuilder addresses these challenges by eliminating the need to duplicate digital evidence at the end of an investigation—a process that requires significant manpower and risks missing critical information. The system allows investigators to add digital evidence throughout the investigation and share it with prosecutors through secure links. It also enables electronic task management, allowing supervisors to assign and track investigative tasks across jurisdictions while monitoring their completion and outcomes.

The Path Forward for Federal Agencies

As federal investigators continue to face evolving challenges, embracing innovative technologies like ShotSpotter, CrimeTracer, and CaseBuilder is no longer optional—it’s essential. From providing actionable intelligence on gunfire incidents to uncovering critical cross-jurisdictional connections and streamlining digital evidence management, these tools address the complexities of modern investigations head-on.

These tools enhance the efficiency and precision of investigations and enable agencies to build stronger cases that stand up in court. By integrating these advanced solutions into their workflows, today’s federal agencies can break through traditional barriers, process vast amounts of data, and achieve better investigative outcomes.

Watch the On-Demand Webinar Here