It can detect a gunshot and tell police exactly where it happened in five to 10 seconds. But how quickly can ShotSpotter penetrate city politics and be deployed in a crime-plagued Pittsburgh neighborhood?

That question remained unresolved despite 21/2 hours of discussion in City Council yesterday, as Council President Doug Shields pushed for quick adoption of the anti-crime tool. Public Safety Director Michael Huss argued for sticking with an existing plan for an integrated, camera-heavy security network that would get a gunshot detection component years from now.

"This is a priority, because this is about stabilizing communities that are in trouble," said Mr. Shields, suggesting that gunshot sensors could be strategically placed in the Hilltop neighborhoods above South Side, or in Homewood, or Larimer.

"We're all anxious to get out there and use it," said Mr. Huss.

But he said he wants to stick with the city's original plan. It would have the city pay Avrio $4.1 million -- mostly from federal funds -- for a computer backbone, port camera system, and camera networks in six city neighborhoods, one in each police zone. The city would then seek funding to build out the system, potentially including ShotSpotter, in a second phase.

Mountain View, Calif.-based ShotSpotter has put its system in parts of 47 cities nationwide, said Gregg Rowland, the company's senior vice president.

A set of 16 sensors per square mile picks up "snap, crackle and pop" sounds, differentiates gunfire and explosions from other noises, triangulates the sounds to pinpoint the location of the event, and within seconds sends data to law enforcement computers.

Mr. Rowland used tapes of gunfights to make his pitch for a system of sound sensors linked to computers.

"You've got a couple of different shooters and a vehicle is involved," he said, while playing a two-minute clip of rat-a-tat-tat gunfire picked up by his firm's sensors and interpreted by its software. "A gun battle on the other side of that wall breaks out," he said, referring to a computer-generated map, "between two different shooters and two different guns.

"In less than two minutes, all of those rounds were fired," he said, "with, would you believe it, no 911 calls." Despite that, police and ambulances were able to arrive promptly, prepared for the multiple shooters and injuries they found.

He said the system allows police to respond quickly so they can catch "bad guys," or at least collect fresh evidence. Its recordings are admissible in court.

Boston put in 120 sensors in a 6.2-square-mile area, Lt. Harry Cataldo of the Boston Police Department told council by phone. He downplayed any crime reduction effect, but said ShotSpotter helps police respond quickly and collect evidence.

It gets appropriately equipped officers started on the way to a shooting scene "one to two minutes prior to the 911 call, which is a huge benefit," he said.

Pittsburgh already has a $4.1 million pact with Maryland-based Avrio Group to build the technological backbone for a citywide anti-crime camera system, including a port security component and electronic eyes in six neighborhoods.

Mr. Huss said that Avrio's quote to the city included the potential for a two-square-mile ShotSpotter system, at a cost of $379,000, and potentially additional square miles for $139,900 each. That's cheaper than a $300,000-per-square-mile figure Mr. Shields discussed.

Mr. Huss, though, said he wants a single system with both video and audio components, and its backbone isn't yet complete.

"I need to know what the timeline is," Mr. Shields said. "I am pretty much convinced that the acoustical system presents a whole different set of opportunities" than cameras do.

Other council members said they just want new law enforcement tools, pronto.

"I know it takes time," said Councilwoman Darlene Harris, "but I'm really anxious to have this in our neighborhoods, as well as the cameras."

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