KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- City leaders are considering purchasing a system designed to detect gunfire and explosions and alert emergency personnel to them in real time, according to a city news release.

The ShotSpotter Gun Location System logs the event into a database so police can use the data for crime analysis, according to ShotSpotter Inc.

The city's Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee heard a presentation about the product at their meeting on Wednesday.

"We get thousands of calls through cell phones when we hear shots are fired. This will at least pinpoint it, because often times when citizens call in, it's in a block or two-block area, according to shots fired. And they can get it down to about 25 meters," said Kansas City, Mo., Deputy Police Chief Cy Ritter.

The Kansas City, Mo., Police Department has begun steps to get federal funding for the system if the city decides its a good fit for the community, according to the news release.

"We need to make sure that we're on the front end in looking at new, innovative ways that we can help reduce crime in our city," said committee member Cathy Jolly.