By Jesse Fraga
The Macon Telegraph
MACON, Ga. — Utilizing artificial intelligence in policing programs and youth outreach contributed to a decrease in homicides in 2024 compared to previous years in Macon - Bibb County, according to local officials.
A multi-agency approach to decrease the violent deaths involved suspect-tracking technologies at the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, as well as community support programs by Macon Violence Prevention and District Attorney Anita Howard’s office, Mayor Lester Miller said at the pre-commission meeting Tuesday afternoon.
“When people start talking smack, we just hit them with the facts...” Miller said. “These are good stats.”
There were 71 homicides in 2022, 40 in 2023 and 39 in 2024, according to Miller.
While the county has made progress since 2022, the rate decreased by 2.5% from 2023 to 2024, compared to the two years prior when the homicide rate dropped by roughly 44%.
“We’re not going to be where we want to be unless we’re at zero,” Miller said.
Youth homicides dropped far more than the overall count.
There were 15 homicides of youth under 18 years old in 2022, five in 2023 and two in 2024.
Macon was ranked the sixth best U.S. city in efforts to reduce gun violence over time in 2023, according to Community Justice, a national organization against gun violence.
“Macon - Bibb County is being used as a model across the state...” Miller said, regarding local efforts to cut homicides.
Investigators use AI
The average number of shots per shooting have decreased as well, according to Sheriff David Davis .
ShotSpotter, an audio and AI company used in some areas of Bibb County , detects the number of shots fired at a certain location.
“It was not uncommon to hear a number of shots, as many as 15, 20 or 25 rounds at one time go off,” Davis told the Chamber. “Now, we may only hear one or two.”
Even if a suspect flees from a shooting, ShotSpotter helps direct deputies to where shell casings could be found as evidence and also linked to other cases.
“We have been able to solve some homicides based on those shell casings,” Davis said.
He asked DA Howard to “expand that footprint of ShotSpotter.”
The first time the technology was used in the DA’s office was in August 2024.
“We talked to the jurors and they said it made all the difference,” Howard said.
The sheriff’s office has also installed about 150 Flock Safety cameras across the county, which track suspects’ license plates and alert deputies when a vehicle moves to other locations, Davis said.
“It may be on Bass Road right now, and then in a couple hours it might be on Rivoli (Drive) or Bloomfield (Road) somewhere,” he told the Commission. “So we get a hit each time that vehicle moves by a Flock camera... then the deputies are able to make a stop.”
Another AI policing tool called Verkada quickly identifies people in surveillance footage, which saves hours of investigating.
There are around 500 Verkada cameras in downtown Macon and public housing properties owned by Macon Housing Authority, according to Davis.
“That would have taken investigators and deputies hours to do the work that we can find out in just a few minutes,” Davis said.
Outreach programs such as Macon Violence Prevention and Restoring Inspiration by Success in Education, led byHoward, aim to steer kids away from, or recover from, criminal activity.
Both initiatives connect kids and families with mental health therapy, financial and literacy education, creative outlets and mentorship opportunities.
“We’re seeing results a lot faster than we expected and we’re happy about that,” Macon Violence Prevention Coordinator Jeremy Grissom said.
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This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
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