(KMOV)- On Tuesday, the St. Louis City police department unveiled their latest weapon in the battle against crime.

It's called Shot Spotter.

Acoustic sensors placed throughout an area pick up the sound of a gunshot, send a signal to dispatch, which then alerts a responding officer to the location where the gunfire originated.

It debuts in the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood.

Residents hope the new device will help boost police presence.

Shot Spotter was paid for by a government grant.

It is already in place in cities like Chicago and Washington D.C. and played a key role in catching the Ohio freeway sniper back in 2003.